BIG TIME PROBLEMS; EITHER THE 'NETWORK' OR THE COMPUTER?...

I haven't been able to blog off the desktop here at home for more than a week as our server and/or the computer are having some sort of 'fit' and refuse to export or import without 'timing out'.

The laptop seems to work somewhat okay, but tech support from both our server and my computer tech people have yet to find the source of the problem. (They have a tendency to blame the other guy with the result being MY situation has not improved.)

Therefore until we get this crap corrected, my posts on this blog are going to be infrequent...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

MAYBE TOMORROW...

I'll post something worth reading, but not tonight.  Long day on the range shooting pistols for B-roll to be run when we do the 'in-studio' stuff.  I was okay for most of it.  My skills started to deteriorate significantly from mid-afternoon on as I 'tired'.  I told them they needed to get a younger 'expert' as I just wasn't up to speed for the last thing that was scheduled.  I needed to be fresh in order to shoot my best and that presently I was well past my 'sell-by' date.

However, I did have one good 6-plate run with the S&W M&P 9, Talon Edition.  However, you should know that as far as the producer/director was concerned that was good enough and we moved immediately to the next gun and I never got the chance to try and improve what was a decent FIRST run.

I'll try to do more tomorrow, but for right now I want to watch the inside of my eyelids...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

CHAOS IS NOT BORING...

Okay, we get into Indy after 10:00PM and haven't had a thing to eat since breakfast but considering we've got 90 miles to go to get home, we get some drive-through.  First bite out of the sandwich after getting safely back up to speed on the interstate and I crack a tooth. 

Oh Joy.

My wife, God Bless Her and she is truly an Angel, gets on the cellphone at 11:30PM last night as we are motoring home and got me an emergency appointment with the dentist this morning at 8:00AM.

I get up early thinking I've got a bunch of stuff to do before I leave tomorrow for GALLERY OF GUNS.  Of course, the first thing I do is check my flight schedule for tomorrow to figure out how many hours I have to do stuff.  Well, it turned out I didn't have a whole lot.

You see, I screwed up, I leave today for GOG.  That's right I'm packed and sitting in the airport right now because Franko can't read a frickin' airline schedule.  Thank Gawd, I caught it at 6:30AM this morning.  My poor wife is a bit frazzled with all the uproar and chaos.

Actually, I'm doing pretty good right now.  A couple of hours ago when I was in the dentist chair I wasn't too sure how this was all going to work out, but now I think we are going to make it.

UPDATE: (or the weirdness increases...)  The flight out of Indy was delayed by a bunch.  Which considering this time I'm flying UNITED, I wasn't surprised.  (UNITED AIRLINES has pretty much been bad Karma for me the last decade or so.)  Anyway, because of all the insanity I 'upgraded' on my own to 1st Class just to have a little room and to 'chill'.  Get on the plane.  No Problem.  We get in the air and the attendant comes around and asks what I would like?  Scotch and Soda?  "Sorry, there is NO liquor on board."  WTF?  You're Serious? 

Unfortunately, she was.  UNITED AIRLINES besides charging you for the privilege of losing your luggage also is an unannounced full-blown Carrie Nation teetotaler airline.  Or at least this plane was.

Then I arrive in this 3rd World Country (I think they call it NEW JERSEY) and of course I'm concerned about missing my connection because of our delayed departure in Indy and THERE ARE NO SCHEDULE BOARDS.  AT LEAST NO FRICKIN' BOARDS THAT HAVE INFORMATION ON THEM!!!!!  Finally chased a worker down who looked my connection up and then immediately yelled "GET ON THE BUS!" and pointed toward an open doorway with access to the runway.

I think I made it to my connection.......AT Least For The Moment.

A friend of mine, who is very successful, when I informed him I was 'retiring', replied, "Now is when you are REALLY going to get busy..."

You know what?  I think he was right....

All The Best,
Frank W. James

BLOGGING ABOVE 10,000 FEET...

On our way back to Indiana and headed for a layover in Minneapolis, then on to Indy.  It was a quick trip to see our son, but an extremely good one.  Yesterday was a very full day.  Something I probably wouldn't have done if I was still 'farming' because the growing 'conditions' are so good, so early back home.

But, that is no longer my worry and I'm good with that.  Another benefit to 'retiring' from the tractor is I start the 3rd Season of GALLERY OF GUNS the day after tomorrow and with things and conditions the way they are this year I couldn't have handled such a late start to the production schedule. 

Now, it's all good...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

AMAZING LUNCH IN SAN PEDRO...

Gawd! I need an old man's nap or maybe 2? We had an amazing lunch today down at Port's Of Call in San Pedro and as we ate this pile of (I have no idea what, but it ALL came out of the ocean and not a feedlot) 3 big container ships came up the channel behind us, one after the other, dragging a tug boat which was trying to act like a 'Brake'.....and the Tugboat had his hands full. A lot of black smoke coming out of the stacks.

My wife took this photo while Mike and Paul helped dig through that pile of everything. Definitely worth the trip and a good time was had by all. It was a great afternoon of laughter and story telling, Mike and Paul both do "FIVE SECOND FILMS" and it is easy to see why those things are so funny.

Going to a club tonight to enjoy Paul's stand-up comedy act...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

ANOTHER 'DOLLAR' VALUE COMMENT...

Okay, so we flew into Los Angeles last night.  If you want a perspective on the 'value' of the dollar or maybe the fact the fact that L.A. is NO longer a part of the United States consider this.

2 weeks ago I flew into Nuremberg, Germany  and couldn't use American Dollars to buy a cab at the airport because nobody wanted them.  I  HAD TO USE A CREDIT CARD!

Guess what?  Same story here.  Took the Fly-Away bus from LAX to Union Station to meet our son, but the bus company is under new management and they DON'T accept cash......nor do they accept Amex...?!?!

2 different countries, but the same reception..!?!?

Will say one thing though, It was strange to fly from a 'warm' weather state (Indiana)at 75F  to a cold/wet state, 52F....(small grin).

They are getting the weather out here WE should be getting....

All The Best,
Frank W. James

WATCHING THE ST. PETE INDY CAR RACE...

Two Things:

The first is they did an incomplete job.  They need to go back and pick that UGLY stick back up and finish the job!

The second is these things are either; an incomplete full fendered sports car, or a really mobile hog shade...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

NOW, ABOUT THIS 'RELOADING' THING, part II...

When I moved back to the farm 37 years ago, I was still using the same Lyman C-type press to reload my ammo.  I continued the process of ONLY purchasing high quality tungsten carbide 3 piece die sets my friend had started me on, but I had used that darn press so much over the ensuing years the ram was starting to wear through the guide in the base and it had gained excessive dimension.  This created a misalignment and I always had to put a finger behind the ram as it raised to guide the shell to be resized properly into the sizing die.  If I didn't I ruined a lost of cases and it was a frustrating situation.

My wife and I met and got married 2 years after I returned, but of course money was tight, so I put up with this situation for a long time.  Naturally, it just kept getting worse.  Finally, I traded some guns for cash (a rare experience, believe me) and used the funds to purchase what I feel is the Gold Standard for single stage reloading presses; the RCBS RockChucker.  I still use that press for something almost everyday when I'm working in the reloading area.

Now I know there are many into reloading who will disagree strenuously with the following declaration, but I absolutely believe anyone who wants to start reloading should start FIRST with a single stage press.  My reasoning is it teaches you patience and you get the basic tenants of this endeavor firmly established before moving on to more high-speed devices. 

Has anyone ever taught an infant how to run before they learned to walk?

The main advantages to a good single stage O-frame press like the Rockchucker are versatility and STRENGTH!  With the proper tools you can use it for such a wide variety of applications that, truly, the only limiting factor is your imagination, or in most cases, your budget.

After droughts of the mid-1980's things got tough economically and it was readily apparent to me that the only things I knew were agriculture, meat-processing, some aspects of banking (I'd been a banker for over 2 years) and GUNS!  Unfortunately, the droughts had flushed a lot of people off the land and the list of available part-time jobs (I had no intention of leaving the farm -- voluntarily!) usually boiled down to a few situations involving firearms and an 'extremely' hardnose attitude. 

I put groceries on the table, but little else.  It was around this time that my wonderful wife got me to start 'writing'.  She has always believed in me and "insisted' (as only a loving wife can) that I start writing down my opinions, beliefs and experiences for others.  She has always said I was "...a story teller...".  She wasn't encouraging me to do this for money or financial reward, but in order to help me keep my bubble level.  (There was a LOT of financial stress involved.)  I did and the damnedest thing happened.  Publishers started sending me checks!  I couldn't frickin' believe it.

A few years go by and the next thing I know I'm the Handloading Editor of AMERICAN HANDGUNNER Magazine.  That was when I got introduced to Mike Dillion.  Boy, talk about the Sun rising in the East!!!

He wanted to get to know me because he had read some of my work.  I was flown out to Arizona and toured his shop.  This was years ago, but man what a place!  Of course over the ensuing months I started to receive mysterious packages containing dies and reloading presses.  (NOW for the FCC crap; Dillion did in fact give me the 1050 and the 650 reloading presses I now have.  That was years ago, but all the other presses I own of his I purchased with my own money at full retail prices!) 

With that admission out of the way, when I was running a full-auto Thompson on a regular basis in SMG matches, I can honestly say I couldn't have done it without that Dillion 1050 reloading press in .45 ACP.  Nor could I have afforded to purchase all the ammo I was running through the silly thing.  The Dillion 1050 reloading press is without question the Tier 1 Premier reloading press on the market today for quality volume production.  No IF's, AND's or MAYBE's!  I've used that thing for years and if something broke on it, IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD A 'DUMBASS' ATTACK.  I thoroughly believe in it and even though I don't use it much any more I would no more part with it than I would sell a child.  I honestly believe if you are a 'high volume' shooter; pistol or rifle, in any of the available calibers for that machine that even with its current price of $1669.95, it is a BARGAIN!!!

The Dillion 650, however, and me have never got along real well.  Mine is currently in pieces and has been for the past couple of years.  Oh, I've got all the parts to put it back together (the Dillion people are extremely GOOD about support)....That is IF I can find them and then remember how to reassemble it, but I've always had a problem with the primer system on it at some point in an afternoon.  When it works, it produces high quality ammunition and I used it to load most of the 9x19mm ammo I ran through the 3 MP5s I had when I was researching PROJECT 64.  It's THAT GOOD in terms of the quality of the ammo it produces, it's just that I could never keep the silly thing running.  Something is always getting out of whack and you have to tear it down, clean it and then reassemble it.  A couple years back I got frustrated with it in the middle of that last process and mine is still in pieces.

Next to the 1050, my favorite Dillion Progressive reloading press, or ANY progressive reloading press for that matter, is the Dillion Square Deal 'B'.  I presently own 2, but I've had as many as 4 on the benches at the same time.  There are limitations to the design and that's why I've sold 2 off.  One was in 9x19mm and the other in .45ACP.  (Yeah, I know WHY did I have one in .45ACP when I had the 1050?  It's a question I kept asking myself.)  Yet, at $379.95 I think the Dillion Square Deal 'B' is the best damn bargain on the market for those who are working with just one caliber.

Of the 2 Dillion Square Deal 'B's that I use now, one is in .41 Magnum.  (No Surprise there, huh?)  It is so handy and used so often in sits in the middle of my bench, just a little ways off from the Rockchucker.  I consider it vital.  The Square Deal 'B', if you load your primer tubes ahead of time and have all your components readily available can produce on average between 200 and 275 rounds per hour for how many hours you have stuff to load......all while watching THE WILD BUNCH being played on the nearby television for the 10,000th time. 

I've had some problems with my Square Deal 'B's.  I cracked a frame once.  Not sure how it happened, but Dillion was GREAT about replacing it.  I've broken the central ram as well with the same result, so I don't get all excited about this stuff because the silly thing just keeps on puking out good quality finished ammo.

The 2nd Square Deal 'B' is set up for 3 calibers, which if you understand the design of these things is a little tricky.  Nominally, it was set up for .357 Magnum, but the Square Deal 'B' does NOT use the standard 7/8-14 thread type dies.  They use smaller dies of their own proprietary design.  But here's the deal, the case head and rim diameter on the following cartridges are all the same: .357 Magnum, .38 Special and .40 S&W.  All you have to do to change calibers is remove the 4 allen head screws and change out the top and you change calibers easily without worrying about the shell holder or different primer sizes.  They all use small pistol primers.

There is one short coming and it gets back to why I sold off the other 2 Dillion Square Deal 'B's.  I don't think their final sizing die is aggressive enough.  For my auto-pistol ammo I really like a 'tight' taper or strong factory profile whole body crimp.  When I used the Square Deal 'B' in 9x19mm I found the ammo I made worked well enough most of the time for handguns, but for the sub-guns I experienced malfunctions.  The solution was the set-up found on the 650 where you set up the final die to provide a really good taper crimp.

Of course, this problem reappears when I set the 2nd one up in .40 S&W, but here I load all the ammo and then take it over to the Rockchucker where I run it through a 5th die that provides what I feel is the needed profile taper crimp for reliable performance.

When it comes to taper crimp dies, I'm not so presumptuous to say I know it all, but I have used many of those currently available.  Some were expensive and a disappointment while others were a surprise.  One of the more pleasant surprises I've encountered recently is the LEE factory profile taper crimp die in .40S&W/10mm.  I found it at a big box sporting goods store in far northwestern Indiana and I have to say I think it is one of the best I've e'var worked with.  I really like the finished product it produces.

This post has run longer than I intended, but it explains some of my experiences and hopefully will provide some pointers to those who might be investigating some aspect of reloading their own ammunition...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

NOW, ABOUT THIS 'RELOADING' THING...

It's apparent to me there is a large segment of the 'new' crop of handgun shooting population that views the idea or the concept of Handloading or the home reloading of their spent cases as something next to an alchemist's inner nightmare or maybe just one step above some sort of witches' incantation.  The following is a short explanation of how I got started and maybe WHY you need to pursue it, in my opinion, IF you want to be considered a serious shooter of handguns.

I started reloading my empty cases soon after I started shooting centerfire handguns.  I was still a lowly underclassman in college at Purdue.  I purchased my 1st handgun, a Ruger Standard Auto, when I was 18 in 1964.  It was soon followed by a High Standard Sentinel.  My 3rd handgun was purchased at the end of my freshman year and it was a Smith & Wesson Model 10 with a 6" barrel.  It was my first centerfire handgun and I soon discovered that feeding the darn thing took serious money away from my weekend social life.  The 1st two were obviously .22 Long Rifle pistols and I was used to buying bricks of ammo for them, but that .38 Special stuff was costly, even the 'cheap' practice 148 wadcutter stuff they loaded for police dept. qualifications back then. 

Then, at the end of my sophomore year at Purdue a professor of mine got me a job as an apprentice meat-cutter at a big supermarket across the river and I stayed with that job until I graduated.  It also allowed me to get something more powerful than that .38 Special six gun.  A lot of the local city police worked security at the store when I was working late nights and I told them I wanted a .357 Magnum.  Well, the Vietnam War was on and although the M&P revolvers were common, finding a new or even a good 'Magnum' was about as easy as getting a date with Raquel Welsh.  I went down to Plainfield, Indiana and in a big gun store down there I approached a clerk I had met through friends and told him my 'want'.  He looked around, over each shoulder just like some guy on a street corner in a Seinfeld episode, and then he reached under the counter and pulled a blue cardboard S&W box containing a Model 27 with a 6" barrel. 

It cost me $143 and change.  I still have that gun.

I was hanging around a store that was a quasi-pawn shop/boot/work clothes outlet when I had some 'spare' time as the guy who owned the place always used to come up and hunt pheasants on one of my dad's rented farms.  I was bitching one day I couldn't afford to shoot my new revolver and he told me I had to start 'reloading'.  I was cautious, but he had the catalogs and after discussing what it was going to take in terms of financial contribution on my part.  (I never seemed to have any MONEY.)  I worked enough extra weekend shitty hours at the supermarket that I finally told him to order the stuff.  He got me a Lyman Reloading Manual, a Lyman C-press, a Lyman #55 powder dispenser, some crappy loading block to put the cases in while I worked with 'em, a cheap balance scale and the high dollar items at the time were a set of Lyman tungsten carbide .357 Magnum reloading dies.  He insisted I pay the extra and get the more expensive dies.  Some of the best advice I've ever received.

I went over to the local Goodwill-type store and bought an end-table and then took it to a lumber yard and had 'em cut 2x8" thick planks that were bolted to the top of the thing.  I didn't bolt anything to these planks, but rather I purchased some C-clamps to mount the press to the table so it would be easier to disassemble and store in the apartment where I was living with 2 other guys.  I assembled everything on this quasi-living-room-work-bench and after going through the reloading manual several times with the outlet store guy he then ordered powder, projectiles and primers for me.  I started my venture into the world of reloading metallic cartridge ammunition and I have never left.  I will only leave this world when I die.

I've been an addict of it ever since and I can't contemplate a world where one only shoots 100% factory ammo.  (I honestly think I enjoy watching a movie on the television or some tv show FAR MORE while working a single stage press because I've done it for so many decades of MY life.)

Reloading immediately allowed me to shoot not 50 rounds in an afternoon, but 250!  Not only that I could experiment and create loads that were possibly more accurate than factory or with bullet styles that were simply unavailable at the time.  (This was the late 1960's and factory handgun ammo usually came in 2 flavors; FMJ or round nose lead.)  But, it was the economic benefits that I appreciated, not the performance benefits.  I think a box of 50 .357 Magnum 158 SWC Remington factory loads back then ran somewhere around $18.00 to $24.00, but by reloading those spent cases I could get the cost down to below $4! 

.38 Special cases were widely available and by reading Skeeter Skelton I learned you could load some bullets 'out', on the last crimp groove of the Thompson cast lead bullet, and load them to .357 Magnum velocities and still stay within mandated pressures.  Whoopee!!  That meant I didn't have to buy them damn expensive 'Magnum' cases.

Pretty soon, I started playing with propellants (when I could afford it) and different projectiles.  I'll tell ya a favorite of mine back then for 'varmit' control was loading the old 148 gr. hollowbase wadcutter backwards over a 'stout' powder charge in a .38 Special case and using it to eliminate ground hogs who dug under abandoned buildings on some of dad's farms.  It was not very accurate at long distance, nor did it penetrate worth a shit, but BOY when it hit something 'soft', did it do a number on 'em. 

And I had loaded that load myself.  NOW, That was fun!

I think today that the greatest hindrance to reloading modern handgun ammunition is the GLOCK pistol and the reason is simple, the dimensions of the Glock chamber.  I own 2 Glock pistols; a Model 26 and a Model 19, but I don't reload for them.  Instead, I purchase large quantities of aluminum case 9x19mm ammo for each.  Glock, like many manufacturers, warns specifically against the use of reloaded or handloaded ammo in their products and in their specific case I agree with them and honor that warning. 

But, because I enjoy reloaded ammo so much, I am no longer a member of the Glock fan boy club.  I have 'em, if needed.  I respect them.  It's a good gun, but I seldom work with 'em anymore, particularly in .40 S&W caliber.  If you are Glock shooter I can understand your reluctance at reloading your spent cases.

FWIW, whenever I pick up spent brass off the range if it has the characteristic rectangular Glock type firing pin strike on the fired primer I throw it away or back down.  I NO LONGER RELOAD ANY BRASS FIRED THROUGH A GLOCK PISTOL, regardless of caliber. 

What YOU DO AND THINK is your business.

Handloading and Reloading your spent cases is going to provide any semi-serious handgun shooter with so much more depth to this past-time and their resulting enjoyment that to ignore it would be like going to a fine dinner and never drinking the 'good' wine that was recommended with the main course, or enjoying the exquisite dessert afterwards; only to be followed by agreeing to pay 2 or more prices for that incomplete single meal.

Reloading your spent cases is NOT a Black Art, it's just an extension of your pursuit of knowledge about handgun shooting that enables you in the process to do MORE for far, far less economically...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

STAND YOUR GROUND LAWS...

Speaking as a bereaved parent my heart goes out to the parents of Travyon Martin, but the truth is I do not accept the version put forth by the popular media because all too often in past events we've learned that a political message was being delivered in place of the actual 'facts'. 

Facts usually, but not always, come to the surface in a hearing, formal court proceedings or a trial.  While painful for the family of the deceased and expensive for the defense of the accused, they are often necessary to 'clear-the-air' and establish what ACTUALLY took place during events that result in the loss of life.

That's all I'm going to say about that aspect of this case, but this morning at the top of the inside page of the USA TODAY it was readily apparent to me that forces located far beyond that Florida suburb are arranging their battalions to do battle with the existing "Stand Your Ground" laws. 

Supposedly, it is Florida's version of this type of law that 'permitted' this tragedy to take place without immediate criminal charges.  I don't think so.

Many, many years ago, the law in Indiana was a person had to exhaust every possible avenue of escape before they were legally entitled to seek a 'Justifible Homicide' declaration in any lethal force/self-defense case.

Probably, the most notorious example of how this went awry involved the death of Indianapolis 500 race driver Elmer George, who was married to the daughter of Tony Hulman, owner of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.  Allegedly, the groomsman for the Hulman family horsefarm was having an extra-martial affair with Mrs. George.  Elmer George was told something of a sensitive nature and he raced to the farm from the Speedway with the clear intent of doing something quite painful to the stable manager.

The horseman may have been warned via a telephone call, the record is somewhat indistinct in this regard, but he obtained a .22 rifle and upon seeing Mr. George enter the grounds, he ran to the Hulman mansion with Elmer in close pursuit.  The horseman ran up the 4 flights of stairs and waited at the top of the stairs for the soon-to-be 'Late' Mr. George.  He killed Elmer George then and there with the .22.

He had exhausted all avenues of escape and, thusly, by the letter of the law was eligible for a ruling of Justifiable Homicide.  Was it pre-planned?  Don't Know and I can't say, but if it was a momentary thing, that type of guy should be one you would follow when they buy a lottery ticket.

Many throughout the state and in our legislature found the situation untenable and the law was changed some years later to one that more reasonably protects the innocent.  I'm not an attorney so I'm not going to begin to explain the details and exceptions of the law, but I do know that citizens of the Hoosier state are no longer required to exhaust all avenues of escape before they are entitled to use lethal force against a violent attacker, especially if he has broken inside your home.

There are many within our political society and structures who can't stand the thought that citizens should have the right to defend themselves with LETHAL FORCE in any type of location and my concern is they will use this case to turn back these hard won 'rights' that many of us use to protect our families from real and true harm...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

9MM VS 38 SPECIAL...

This is a personal Rant and nothing less and if you don't have time for such nonsense go somewhere else because I've got something I'm going to get off my chest.

I was surfing the interweb last evening when I came across what I feel is one of the more 'dumb ass' statements out there and it was posted by someone who should know better.  The individual is published commercially and has been on multiple teevee shows so I'm not bitching about any backyard mall ninja.

What he posted (and I forget where it was that I read it) was that "...the 9mm was more powerful than the .38 Special..."  

HORSE-SHIT!!!!!! 

Crap like this just sets me off and I have to ask by what standard of measurement is the 9x19mm cartridge MORE POWERFUL than the .38 Special?

Ballistiscally, they are pretty close, but for different reasons.  If however I was forced to pick one for its ability to penetrate deeply, deliver pure foot-pounds of energy (a nebulous measurement of terminal ballistic performance) or its ability to deliver greater lethality over the span of the entire history of its existence, there is no question the .38 Special is a better cartridge. 

The problem is it is a revolver cartridge and as a result the consumer is limited, severely in the view of some today, in the number of BB's they can put in the 'shooter'.

The .38 Special cartridge was introduced in 1902 by Smith & Wesson with the introduction of their first Military & Police revolver. 

The cartridge we know today as the 9x19mm round was also introduced in 1902 as the 9mm Luger round, soon to be known as the 9mm Parabellum and today there is a military standard round employing the same case and projectile, but loaded to higher pressures, known as the 9mm NATO.

The 9mm Luger until shortly after 1986 was pretty much a dismal failure in terms of terminal ballistics trying to end vigorous/hate-filled social interactions.  The reason was simple.  It was only available for decades in a Full Metal Jacket configuration that did little to nothing in terms of delivering good or even reasonable terminal ballistics on soft-tissue targets.  The FBI-Dade County Shoot-Out became a seminal event in the development of this round because the Winchester Silvertip (which at the same time was considered THE state-of-the-art round for this caliber) that failed to stop the main perpetrator, even though it was perfectly delivered in terms of accuracy, was probably the best illustration of just how bad this cartridge was up to that point in time for terminal ballistic performance.

That failure brought forth major changes and the result today are the highly efficient bullets we routinely take for granted in terms of their terminal ballistic effectiveness, but these developments, quite naturally, have been geared for the more popular cartridges which are primarily chambered by semi-auto pistols.  Revolvers with the exception of the small-frame snub nose class are pretty much passe' and forgotten.

But I started out on revolvers and I know what that lowly .38 Special round can do, especially if it is loaded with a heavy, home cast, flat meplat bullet and a healthy charge of Hercules Unique behind it.  (2400 in a heavy load also worked well for this purpose as well.)  Now, stuff these homeloads in a six-gun with a 6 inch barrel and pretty soon you've got a round that could pass for a low level .357 Magnum.  Just go back and reread some of Skeeter Skeleton's published work if you don't believe me.  He pioneered those things and used them for 'serious' law enforcement applications before there was even a thought of highly developed, computer designed self-defense bullets.  His .38 Special rounds would rock! 

And there is no frickin' way any 9x19mm handload out there, including the much heralded +P+ loads, could even come close to the performance those things would achieve out of a long barreled revolver.

The problem is no one works with revolvers anymore because everyone wants to have a whole bunch of BB's in their gun.  I have mixed emotions about the subject of high capacity auto-pistols; especially after working for 12 years as a certified law enforcement firearms instructor but that's a whole 'nuther rant for another day.  Yet, you can't change progress!?!

But you can identify UNINTELLIGENT GARBAGE AND HORSESHIT and to say the "...the 9mm is more powerful than the .38 Special..." is exactly THAT in my view and more the analysis of someone who hasn't spent enough time in the 'trenches' or really someone who doesn't know what he thinks he does. 

Talk about a 'lite' weight gun expert.....

All The Best,
Frank W. James

NOT WHAT I EXPECTED...

I thought this 'retirement' stuff was going to be difficult in that I wouldn't have things to do and I would be fighting BOREDOM.  I was wrong.  In fact I was so mistaken I didn't sleep last night trying to figure out how I'm going to get everything done and NONE OF IT has anything to do with the farms!!!

The problem is essentially for well over the past 2 decades I've run two simultaneous careers.  One with the farms, which I operated by myself, and my writing career which a couple of years ago was expanded involuntarily into some sort of television participation.

Now, I'm just doing the one career and suddenly I've got all kinds of stuff to attend to, or be in far-away places and attempting to coordinate this stuff is proving a little more 'involved' than I imagined.  My wife summed it up best when she said, "You know if you were STILL farming, you wouldn't be able to do ANY OF IT!"  Oh how true that statement was. 

Which in a way is very relaxing for me because I have never worked JUST ONE JOB in the past 25 years and to do so is half-way easy in comparison to trying to coordinate 2 different careers, their time requirements and their respective You-Absolutely-Have-To-Be-Here on this particular date non-negotiable stuff.  I never realized how stressful it really was until I went to just one career, kinda like a 'normal' person.  It was always a struggle to maintain those 2 'lives' and careers and seldom did it do much for my 'sparkling' personality!....(small grin)

Still, I had so much going through my head last night I didn't go to sleep until way late into the morning.  Not a good thing,

I have to learn to adjust to this new life, but it's hard because I've never lived so much off the unanticipated phone calls or emails before and that is what is difficult for me to become accustomed to.  I've always been a big one on "PLANNING" and mapping things in advance.  These sudden requests or changes have a tendency to 'throw' me.

I know one thing I'm going to be doing a little more traveling than I've been doing in the recent past...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

SCARY WEATHER...

Okay, all the non-farmers (except ME) are all excited about the current temperatures and weather conditions here in mid-North-West Indiana. 

I'M NOT!

The last time we had a 'warm' month of March like this was back in 1983 and the summer following that was nothing less than A SON OF A BITCH!!!  I think it rained on July 4th and didn't rain again until September 16 or so.  And in that same time period the last of July and most of August routinely saw high temperatures on a daily basis of over 100 degrees F throughout our area!

As far as our crops went, IT WAS  A MAJOR DISASTER!  And if you, Mr. & Mrs. Urban grocery consumer, think such a weather pattern won't affect you and your family, GUESS AGAIN!  Right now the grain commodity supply chain remains 'tight' and the 'pipeline' only has so many days of supply in it.  There is little to no 'carry-over'.  Granted the price of #2 yellow corn has been falling on the CB&T for the past 30 days, but that's more because the brokers and the market are trying to buy soybean acres (the price of soybeans for fall delivery is quickly approaching the $13/bu on the local level) because right now the numbers still favor corn production over soybeans in terms of net dollars per acre......even with what I feel is astronomical input costs for corn/acre.

If we see another drought year like 1983, it wouldn't surprise me to see corn prices shoot through the roof and break the $8.00/bu mark and believe me that will echo, ECHO, ECHO and ECHO through the national economy far worse that raising the price of gasoline above the $4.00/gal mark nationally.

So for all the soccer Moms and urbanites who are relishing these 80 degree temperatures in the month of March, my advice is BE AFRAID, BE VERY AFRAID because if we don't get a wet and cold April and May, you can bet your ass we are going to have a hot and dry July and August and that is going to put a big dent, I mean a BIG DENT, in the resulting fall harvest yields.

The Law of Supply and Demand being what it is, that means a big increase in what you pay for food and fuel (there are now directly linked, like it or not) and it will happen one way or the other...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

OTHERS AGREE ABOUT THIS 'UNIMPORTANT EVENT''...

Today's post is kind of a "I told ya so..." comment on my post about HBO's cancellation of the series "LUCK".  If you go here you will see others far more knowledgeable than myself question the stated reason for the cancellation of this lackluster tv series.

If you want a short summation, the real people who own the Santa Anita racetrack, the Stronach Group, weren't real pleased with the way horse racing and gambling were being portrayed and they wanted more input on the story content.  Knowing the reputation of Hollywood producers, directors and writers, if I were going to gamble I would say that's a safe bet that 'that' wasn't going to happen. 

One thing is pretty much a 'given', the death of 3 horses had little to do with the actual reason the series was cancelled.

Probably, the real reason HBO cancelled the series is revealed in the last paragraph and that was it's ratings.  After the first episode it just kept losing viewers.

It was a crappy show and no one wanted to watch it...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

BEST GUN FOR SKUNKS?...

I don't know if it is the unusually warm weather or what, but in the past few weeks James Family Farms has had more than the usual number of skunk encounters, a high number in fact.  Fortunately, they have all been up to date....decidedly one sided and resulted in happy endings.

Shooting skunks (and here I'm talking about the 4 legged variety, not the biped type) is not as easy or as decisive as one would think.  I've shot them with a variety of handguns, rifles and shotguns.  My feeling is if you're going to use a handgun, make sure you can put the bullet into the head and between the ears no matter what the caliber is!  I think a good rule of thumb is you have to be able to hit a 25 cent piece at whatever distance the striped critter is standing, moving or running. 

Otherwise you will get to experience the slow motion effect after it's down, even though it's D-E-A-D, of a puke green spray coming out its back side.  And if the wind is in the wrong direction, it is truly a Lose-Lose situation.  Additionally, there is a strong probability the wife won't let you in the house afterwards, nor will she be all that happy if the windows are open and this occurs within a half-mile of said home.  I won't even discuss the family dog and what he wants to do with the carcass if he gets the chance.

Skunks, in my opinion, absolutely demand a CNS (central nervous system) shot.  Now for the PETA members reading this I'm sure you are objecting to this whole discussion and my recommendations.  Which leads me to advise you to continue to let your dog outside when he needs to go 'potty' and don't discipline him when he comes back smelling like Peppy LePleu.  Have fun, however, getting the smell out of the carpet and your bedspread.

No, skunks in the field and along the ditchbank get a free pass and I leave 'em alone, but come within 100 yards of the house and buildings and it's lethal force time for any number of very good reasons.

Years of experience have lead me to believe it's hard to beat a shotgun with small shot.  The last one just went down at a distance of 30 yards to a load of #8 out of a Modified choke 16 gauge and he never twitched.  Not Once. 

THANK GOD!...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

UNIMPORTANT EVENTS LIKE HBO'S "LUCK"...

It has been announced that the HBO's series "LUCK" has been canceled because a 3rd horse has died during the filming of this inane I-Don't-Get-It series.  I've watched 3 or 4 episodes of this thing and the truth is I just couldn't get into it.  It deals with horse-racing which exists pure and simple because of 'recreational' gambling.

As someone who for 37 years borrowed money I didn't have and then 'gambled' it on a combination of good weather, decent grain markets from the Chicago Board of Trade and favorable costs of 'inputs' together with the dream of good yields, I have little to no patience with "Recreational Gambling".  I don't care if 2 people of the same sex want to do indescribable things to each other, if they want to have a bridal shower, a ceremony and attempt to live happily ever after.  I don't care if some young woman wants to rent her body to some loser who can't make a connection to a person of the opposite sex without paying for it.  (I do oppose some guy beating the shit out of a group of girls until they agree to engage in this 'business' for his profit.  That I oppose and think it's a criminal act of the first order, but if some chick wants to rent the space between her legs without the help of others, that's her business).  Personally, I'm opposed to abortion, but that's just me and I recognize it as a personal opinion and seldom go beyond that.  I believe that 'organized religion' is a contradiction in terms just like 'military music' and I don't believe Popes or Ayatollahs should be involved in government of any kind.  I believe the 'War on Drugs' is a money maker for those in the administration of 'Law Enforcement', but I'm not ready to 'de-criminalize' drugs in general.  I do think some things need review.

Additionally, I like the Constitution the way it was originally written and interpreted.  It makes sense to me.

What I am opposed to IS 'Recreational Gambling'.  I think people who engage in recreational gambling are Damn Fools and those who borrow money to do it are STUPID DAMN FOOLS!  I say that as someone who for decades borrowed large amounts of money and literally sunk it in the ground in the hopes I would get it back plus some extra, just so I got the chance to do it all over again next year.  I never saw ANY pleasure in the exercise and have always believed that those who do......Have a Serious Screw Loose between the ear flaps on their noggin.

Maybe that's the reason I could never get into "LUCK".  It pains me not to see the silly thing canceled.  As to the reason why it was canceled I think the stated reason is completely bogus.  Anyone who has worked with livestock; especially 'High Strung' livestock (and thoroughbred race horses are the originators of that term) knows from experience that interaction with them on a regular, continual basis is going to involve injury or death to someone or something.  PETA be damned because in my view those people are the biggest hypocrites on the face of the earth; either that or they are the absolute dumbest when it comes to really working with large animals or a lethal combination of both.

Michael Mann was an executive producer of this series and generally speaking I like his stuff.  He has done films like "THIEF", "THE LAST OF THE MOHICAN'S", "HEAT", "ALI", and "COLLATERAL".  Those are his works that I enjoyed.  I didn't care too much for "MIAMI VICE" or "PUBLIC ENEMIES", but overall I like to see his stuff, but not this time.

Also, I think HBO has let their programming chain jump the sprocket.  "THE WIRE" was one of the best police dramas of all time and I remain a firm addict for that series, but I also believe the fact it never received an Emmy was due in large part to the hypocritical 'racism' of those in the entertainment business because that series was comprised primarily of some marvelous black-American actors.  That may be viewed as a harsh analysis but it remains my conviction because I loved that series so much for its 'reality'.

Since then we have been given nothing but politically inspired leftist clap-trap or this nonsense like "LUCK".  I would cancel my HBO subscription but I keep hoping someone there will come back to reality and be inspired to create another wonderful series like "BAND OF BROTHERS" or "THE WIRE".

As for "LUCK", I won't miss what I could never watch in the first place...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

EUROPEAN GAS PRICES AND SPRING WORK...

Everyone over here is getting all hysterical about the price of gasoline as locally it's getting pretty close to the $4.00 per gallon level.  When I was over in Germany last week gas prices was an interest of mine.  Unfortunately, while my hotel was reasonable in terms of its rate (in comparison to some in the city) and quite nice, it was located on the east side of the old city center in Nuremberg and not close to any of the underground stations.  That meant if I didn't want to walk at least half a mile or more, I was forced to use a taxi to get to Messenstrum or conference/convention center.

Due to my swollen foot, I was walking enough as it was inside the exhibition area so I spent a lot of money on cab fares.  In driving out to the IWA show we passed a number of gas stations and the pricing for fuel ran somewhere between 1.71 Euros/liter to the highest I saw of 1.77 Euros per liter.  I couldn't do the calculations in my head then as I wasn't sure what the conversation rate was for liters to gallons and Euros to US Dollars.

At the main train station in Nuremberg I bought Euros with $250 (American) and got 164.82 Euros in return.  Now granted that also included a charge for the exchange, but in practical terms that meant each Euro cost me $1.52.  Multiply that amount by 1.77 and you come up with a price of $3.03 per liter of gasoline.  Convert liters to gallons and according the on-line reference sources, it takes 3.78541178 liters to make a gallon, so multiply that figure by $3.03 and it equals out to $10.18/gallon of gasoline.

Kinda makes $4.00/gal gas look cheap by comparison doesn't it?

It used to be all the taxi-cabs in Germany were Mercedes Benz, NOT anymore.  Most of them are Prius's.  One cab driver told that he had his Prius for more than 2 years, put 150,000 kilometers on it and only had to turn the rotors and put new pads on the front brakes.  Otherwise he hadn't spend anything on any other repair of any kind, which he thought was outstanding.

Most of the people I talked to wanted a vehicle that would give on average 60 kilometers of driving for 6 liters of fuel use.  That translates according to my incredibly feeble arithmetic to approximately a mileage rate of 23.6 miles per gallon using our measurements.  Considering that most of their driving is stop and go city type stuff, that is by our standards a reasonably high gas mileage figure. 

I mentioned to a good friend I had purchased a 'performance' car (the Mustang) and was more concerned about performance than overall fuel economy.  He responded he too had recently purchased a new car, a Mercedes, and it was not as fuel efficient as many in Germany considered reasonable.  His car used 8 liters for 60 kilometers which I figure is about 17.6 miles per gallon, or what I get with the farm 4x4 pick-up and better than what I used to get with the Ford E-350 van.

Of course, when it comes to driving any distance at all Europeans don't have a clue.  One guy wanted to impress me with the fact that he had trip coming up that would be equal to 700 miles -- ONE WAY!  I smiled and simply nodded my head.  What I didn't tell him was I won't fly anywhere unless the distance to my destination is GREATER than 700 miles because I consider that distance and anything less to be on leisurely recreational side of the scale for driving distances. 

When I lived in Colorado I left at noon on a Thursday and drove straight through to the west place and arrived just after 6:00AM Friday morning one Spring.  A total distance of over 1,200 miles and over 18 hours driving time.  Dad was fueling the tractors in the barnyard for field work when I drove in.  He greeted me and then I climbed on one of them and worked ground till approximately 2:00 that afternoon because I was so 'wired' from all the coffee I drank, whereupon I told him I was kinda 'tired' and thought I would go to bed for awhile.  He laughed in agreement.

Europeans consider such tales to be complete fabrications and I honestly think they don't believe them for a second.  I've driven from Orlando, Florida to here in 23 hours, straight through, and used to think nothing of it.  I don't do it anymore because driving late at night does begin to cause me some fatigue and I won't do the stupid stuff anymore, but I did drive out to see our son 2 summers ago and did 2,189 miles in a 2-1/2 days with no problems at all.  It was easy.  Like I said when it comes to driving distances, I don't think the Europeans have a clue.

I came home to extremely unusual weather.  The temperatures are all in the 70's and they are talking a possibility of a high of 80 or better today.  Of course, everyone is in the fields around here and making the dust fly.  Those that don't have their ammonia ON are going Hell Bent for Election.  I thought that seeing the neighbors making the first dust fly after my 'retirement' would bother me.  But it doesn't.  Most of our married life I've worked 2 careers, sometimes 3 when things were really 'tight', and now I get to do just one thing, the television and gunwriting career.  I no longer have to think about how I'm going to plan my field work or watch the weather forecast, hour by hour, due to a need to get certain things accomplished in order to do other things with the accompanying and sometimes opposing career. 

Performing 2 careers simultaneously was always stressful and the truth is that is the one thing I DON'T MISS.

It's easy now because the phone rang yesterday and it was a director/producer for GALLERY OF GUNS and he wanted to know what my timeline was.  Other than a few commitments like the NRA Convention and a couple of trips, it was easy.......I can be where-ever YOU NEED ME.  I was never be able to say that before and IT IS GREAT to say it now.  It's even relaxing!...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

BACK IN THE USA...

Just cleared US Customs in Detroit and now have yet another layover before I make it to Indy.

A number of personal observations:

1)  Airline security in both France and Germany is FAR easier than it is here in the USA and they have a better 'attitude' as well.

2)  AT&T International Phone service ain't.  Never once found a signal for the 'puter.  Complete waste of money to purchase the AT&T web device and international service plan.  This week I'm going to ask for my money back on the International Plan.

3)  The IWA show is fast approaching the Shot Show in terms of overall importance.  IWA 2012 had more visitors than SHOT, approximately 35,000 vs. 25,000, more countries represented, over 100 and more companies.  Granted it's Europe so the emphasis are big time different than what the focus is over here, but still there were more things that we never see in the USA.  Shot has more floor exhibit area but I'm not that convinced that is all that much of a good thing.

3a)  A little bird I talked to at IWA seemed to feel that next year's Shot Show requirements for Press Credentials ARE GOING TO BE WAY DIFFERENT.  Bottom line; too many 'concerns', ie: complaints, from the exhibitors and they are the ones who count with NSSF.

4)  Paying for a one month membership in Delta's SkyMiles Club is good money spent.  What I lost on the AT&T thing was made up in Europe by the SkyMiles  'extras'.  Here however in Detroit I couldn't find a signal from either Delta's "Orange" service (what they do in Europe) or AT&T.  I had to go to Bongo, which is nothing short of a rip-off.  The Lounge offers free snacks, free beer (if that's what you want) and a quiet place to relax or even sleep like I did today in Paris.  I think it's a good deal.,

5)  This was a relatively short trip, but it always good to get back to the 'Ole USA....

All The Best,
Frank W. James

PISTOLS; BOTH NEW. AND KNOCK-OFFS...

This is the "STRIKE ONE" pistol from Arsenal Firearms and it was designed by Nicola Bandini.  This pistol, alone, is the main reason I like going to the IWA show.  I get to see something truly innovative instead of the same old shit in a new package.  Take note of the fact that slide is not as 'high' as that normally seen.  The big bonus of this design is the centerline axis of the bore is extremely low.  On some shooters it will probably line up with the upper portion of their shooting arm!  That means this pistol should be extremely controllable.  It is chambered for the 9x19mm and the magazine holds 17 rounds, but the function of this pistol is different than any other.

The STRIKE ONE breaks down in the standard component parts, but the barrel itself does NOT contain the cam or a cam operated link.  Instead, the cam is on the bottom of a horseshoe shaped device (my terms NOT theirs) and it pulls the barrel out of battery upon firing.  The designer says that this cam device is only carrying a fraction of the load found on a normal pistol because the barrel is so low in the frame.

This shows the barrel in place and awaiting the cam 'horseshoe' piece.  Once it is installed all that is needed is a captured recoil spring and guide rod assembly.

This shows the internals on the top of the frame.  On this prototype the frame was made from alloy, but the production guns due in September will use a polymer frame.  This is an exciting design and one I weally, weally want to work with because I think this thing is going to be a 'Shooter'.

OK, the same firm had this thing on display.  It's a double .45 1911 pistol.......Literally!!  I'm sorry I can't take this thing too seriously because for one thing IT IS H-E-A-V-Y!  Yet, it must be said it is an engineering accomplishment.  It has 2 barrels, a single slide that is shaped like 2 slides with opposite facing ejection ports(redacted), 2 triggers, 2 magazines, but only 1 SEAR!  One trigger doesn't work.  You select which side you want the sear on and that's the trigger that operates this thing.  The hammers while looking like 2 hammers are actually a single hammer, that operate off the single sear.  I can't imagine what this weighs with 2 full magazines of 230 gr. Hardball?

Because of the lighting you can't see the hammers real well in this photo, but while they look like 2 hammers they are actually a single hammer.  There is also ONLY one rear sight and one front sight.

I have to admit this is intimidating, but for me I would rather have 2 guns with one in each hand.

The magazines are held together by the single base plate, but they work just like all other 1911 magazines.

KNOCK-OFFS...

The Chinese firm Norinco is no longer allowed to import handguns into the USA and this is probably a good reason why.  This is a straight knock-off of the Sig 228, complete with dust cover rail.  Some of my European contacts say many of the parts will interchange.  I first saw a Sig copy from the Chinese over 10 years ago at my last IWA show, so this isn't 'new'.  They've been doing it for awhile, but while the trigger pull was improved from what I remember, it still can't be described as 'good'.  And as far as I was concerned the finish on all these guns was 'rough'.

What more can you say?  This photo says it all.

My question is If the Chinese can make a Woodsman, WHY CAN'T COLT????

The Chinese even knocked off their copy of the CZ-75.  It's 'rough' in comparison even when judged against the early examples of the CZ-75.  (I have one that was made during the Years of the Evil Empire.)  But obviously if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, both the Czechs and the Germans should feel honored.  Although my thoughts are everyone in the firearms business in the United States will do ALL within their power to keep the Chinese out of the US market simply because of these knock-offs and their tendency to 'steal' designs.

On other matters, I've learned from another source that HK is not in the best of financial health.  I figured that, but he confirmed it and mentioned a number of possible problems facing HK, including an investigation by the German gov't for unsanctioned deals.  He also denied that Keith Halsey was the major stock-holder and insisted that someone else was.  He gave me a name, but I don't feel at liberty to repeat it.

I also learned to my sorrow that Volker Kurst, the retired German Army Major, that helped so much when I was researching the material for the MP5 book died 2 years ago from cancer.  He was a great guy and he really knew guns.  I feel the shooting community is less by his loss.

This will probably be it for my IWA reports on this blog.  I'm going to do a far more extensive report in my handgun column in THE SHOTGUN NEWS which will be submitted shortly after my return, so it should appear month after next.  You can find it on the newstands if you want to learn more.

I fly out of here at O-Dark Thirty Hours tomorrow morning...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

FROM THE IWA PRESS CENTER....

Okay, the first thing I have to do is figure out this German keyboard.  Did you know they are not the same?  The "y" and the "z" are in different locations as is the button for the " marks.  Additionally, to get the @ sign you have to depress the 'Alt Gr' button and then hit the "q" button.

I saw the full size double-1911 this morning and engineering-wise it is a good piece of work, but I sure wouldn't want to carry one.  It is H-E-A-V-Y!!!  Having said that, they also had a new pistol on display called the "Strike One".  A completely fresh design and original in a couple of areas.  It has a very low bore axis that reduces the distance between the center of the hand and the boreline.  The prototype had an aluminum frame, but the production models which are forecast in September will feature polymer frames.  So far there is NO American importer and there should be.   THIS is an exciting and new design.

Will try to post more later...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

CONVERTER PROBLEMS...

I did 2 things to make sure I could keep the 'puter running before I left the states.  The first was I bought an extra capacity battery and the 2nd was I bought a converter kit from Batteries Plus so I could recharge things off the European electrical outlets.  It would appear that despite my best efforts (I actually read the instructions) the converter is NOT working and the extra capacity battery has pretty much run its course without a recharge.

I was told the extra capacity batter would be good for 14 hours.  It has certainly done that and more, but now I'm using the original battery to run and it is rated for less than half that amount.  This is going to limit my ability to post much more until I get back to the states.

I will say this, this new Lenovo laptop is popular over here because while I was in the Air France club lounge in Paris I saw 6 individals with this exact same 'puter and most of 'em had the extra capacity battery.  I also haven't seen that many Apple products over here, but then maybe I'm just in the wrong place at the wrong time..

LAST MINUTE POSTSCRIPT: The hotel where I was staying is definitely a 4 Star Hotel, I asked at the front desk if they had a power converter for my computer; ie American 110 volt, 2 flat prong type and THEY DID.  They added a 10 Euro charge to my hotel bill, but I was able to get my big battery fully recharged.  Wonders never cease.  Out-Frickin'-Standing!

All The Best,
Frank W. James

KINDA A 'CARBINE' DAY FOR ME,,,

I went looking for this when I spotted a big poster they had illustrating it at the new entrance.  The poster made you think it was a 'double-1911' pistol with 2 frames, 2 slides, 2 barrels, Well, just about 2 of everything BUT the frames were joined as One!  After I found it in Hall #7 it turned out to a 'minature' pistol that probably wasn't as large as my hand.

Okay, this gun and the next two are all from LUVO Prague, Ltd., a company located in the Czech Republic that I mentioned yesterday.  I tried to find out all the pertinent information, but they had no brochures and the woman who spoke English didn't know much about the specific details of these guns.  I asked how long they had been making AR-style rifles and after asking a gruff looking guy the answer given was 3 years.  You will notice in the above example the caliber is listed a "5.56x23mm"  That would describe a case close in length to the .38 Super, but loaded with a .22 caliber jacketed bullet.  Interesting.

This gun from the same company illustrates a little known fact about many of the firearms laws here in Europe.  The Czech Republic and Italy have NO required length for a rifle barrel.  In other words, they don't have a SBR category but they are still legal for civilian ownership.  Additionally, according to what I was told, it's pretty easy at present to get a concealed carry pistol license in the Czech Republic.  Currently, it sounds like that country is a very Pro-Gun state.

This is the last photo I've posted of the many I took of the products on display at the LUVO Prague, Ltd. booth.  This rifle is chambered (according to the sign) in 7.62x39mm, but it doesn't use regular Kalashnikov magazines because on this example you can't rock the magazine into place.  The front of the mag well is NOT cut-away to allow rocking the magazine IN.  The magazine has to be shoved up into the mag well, which requires a proprietary magazine for the 7.62x39 rounds.

It's a shame this gun is an Air-Soft gun and not a real firearm.  I wouldn't own it for myself, but I'm sure there are several who would......IF it shot real bullets.  I will say this; there is an exhibit hall here that is chocked full of 'Air-Soft' and some of them are pretty damn realistic looking.  Several fooled me until I picked them up and recognized that due to their light weight what I was holding.  One firm is selling 'aged' AK-47s and they look golly darn REAL!  I have to admit I'm wondering if I would like to have a 6mm BB version of the HK MP7?

This was listed at the IZHMASH booth as "NEU".  It is the SAIGA-22 or an AK in .22 LR caliber.  The barrel length was listed as 357mm in length and the magazine capacity was either 10 rds or 24 rds.

I suppose one could argue this is the Kalashnikov version of an MP5.  It was on display at the IZHMASH booth and is a 9x19mm caliber Kalashnikov, complete with folding stock.

One of the surprises here at the show that I've discovered and I spent more than an hour making sure I hadn't missed something is the fact that Heckler & Koch has what only can be described as a minimal presence here at the show.  They have 2 or 3 people working off two bar-stool like weapons stands on a small corner of the MERKEL lay-out.  (Merkel's display area is HUGE.)  Supposedly they had a presence at the "ENFORCE TAC" display that closed yesterday which I missed.  ENFORCE TAC was IWA's short 2 day exhibit provision for the companies who produce full-auto stuff for the police and military.

I finally tracked some people down but they more or less said civilian sales were not their market and they didn't see the need to be here...???  I did hear from one source that Englishman Keith Halsey is still the major stock holder of the company, but this reduced presence at one of the biggest small arms shows taking place in, literally, their backyard raises more than a few questions in my mind?

Tomorrow is my last day and I have a few odds and ends I want to clean up before packing my bag for the return to home.  I can't believe how this show has grown in size.  They actually have a new entrance which I missed the first day when I went in the 'old' entrance.  That's why I missed all the full-auto stuff.  Plus, they have added a couple more full size exhibit halls since my last visit.

It was a good day, even if I was repeatedly fooled by the appearance of more than a few of the Air Soft guns.  They really are that good in appearance...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL...

This is the restaurant where I ate supper tonight.  Supposedly this establishment was first opened in the 1500's and has remained open as a meeting house and restaurant every since.  In Indiana it would have been torn down ages ago because it wasn't 'new' enough.

Here I am discussing something of great importance (I'm sure) with Mathias one of the Co-Editors of the German Gun Magazine VISIER.

The man to my right, your left, is Bruno Circi, the Digital Publishing Director of a new paperless gun magazine and Italian based gun website, www.all4shooters.com.  He said he had read my work for years.  I replied, "In a court of law that WON'T prove you're literate.  Very nice fellow and a fun guy to visit with about guns.  You know, SHOOTERS ARE SHOOTERS EVERYWHERE.  The language is the same --  It's Just THE GUN!

To those who don't know, that's Steve Halbrook, one of the foremost 2nd Amendment attorneys at law in the United States.  He commented on how long it had been since we last saw each other.

Uli, the other Co-Editor of VISIER as the party is ending and he gets to take his tie off.

It was a fun evening and of course the menu consisted of bratwurst, kraut and beer.  The sausages were great and the beer wasn't bad either....

All The Best,
Frank W. James

NO, DOROTHY THAT'S NOT A SILO...

And you are NOT in Kansas anymore.  Part of the defensive wall for the old city center of Nuremberg.

You can't find architecture like this in the states.  I always find neighborhoods like this so stereotypical German.

This was the scene that greeted me when I first walked into the very first exhibit hall here at IWA.  (There are a total of 7!)  I thought for a moment there they had misplaced the cast from that tv series about Spartacus?

I didn't know that female blogger librarian type people were also making their own line of shotguns?

But I do like their ad and trademark posters....

And speaking of female bloggers, guess who I thought of when I saw this?



On a purely business note, I was intrigued to find that even the Czechs have jumped onto the "AR format-rifle-is-a-commodity" bandwagon.  I plan on going back tomorrow to learn more details about these things as they had a number of different models on display that were chambered in 9x19, 5.56x45, 7.62x39 and 7.62x51 calibers.

I left the Messenstrum early this afternoon because I was flat tired from the travel and the first night in a new location I never seem to sleep well.  I took an old man's afternoon nap after I got back to the room but I did meet up with old acquaintances.  I even got invited out to some party tonight at a Gasthaust that was supposedly created in the 1500's.  I'm looking forward to that.

More later...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

A PRETTY FACE AND A CREDIT CARD...

Well, at least a credit card will get you through most anywhere. 

I didn't change my money before I left the states because as I remembered it there were money exchanges all over the place the last time I was in Europe.  That should tell you how LONG it's been, because Terminal "G" at Charles DeGaulle had no banks or money exchange places.

Okay, I'll do it in Nuremberg upon my arrival I think to myself.

Guess Again, Ajax.

By the time I arrived in Nuremberg the only money exchange kiosk at the airport had CLOSED.

Okay, I go to the taxi line and ask "Do you guys take Dollars?"  NOPE!  They don't want 'em.  Boy, that was a shock because it used to be everyone wanted Dollars.

But, the first guy in line spoke English and he found me a cab driver in the long line assembled outside the terminal who would take a credit card!  God Bless American Express, everyone over here accepts AMEX!

13 Euros later on my credit card and I'm at my hotel, which won't by the way exchange any money, but they too take AMEX.  As did a nice 'Italian' restaurant down the street where I got supper after I checked in.  The beer was simply OUT-frickin'-STANDING!  I guess I have to go to the train station tomorrow early AM to exchange genuine American Dollars for the the more expensive Euros.....and do this ALL before I head out to the IWA Show.

You don't realize how worthless our money has become until you go off-shore...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

LAYOVER IN FRANCE...

Although I used to fly to Europe on a regular basis this is the first time I've flown into France as my point of entry into what comprises the EU.  Charles De Gaulle Airport outside Paris IS different, because essentially it consists of a series of terminals situated around the circumference of the network of runways.  To get from one to the other you have to exit the arrival terminal, after clearing customs of course (more on that in a moment), get on a bus and go to your departure terminal.

Of course the flight out of Atlanta was over 7 hours in length and I took my shoes off.  Big Mistake.  For you see my left foot became swollen to the point I couldn't get my shoe back approximately 20 minutes before touch-down.  It was embarrassing, but I asked an attendant if they had a 'shoe horn' and guess what?  They did.  I guess it happens all the time and they come prepackaged in cellophane.  I kept it and it is going to become a permanent part of my travel kit.

As for French Customs, as an American I found the French to be extremely 'civilized' there was none of the mall-ninja attitude I've experienced as recently as Christmas upon our family's return from Cancun.  There were 2 officers in the booth that I had to approach after snaking through the usual long line of arriving travelers.  They were smiling, one was even laughing and joking with the 'customers'.  I got a woman who gave my picture and details a quick glance and then she stamped an entry date into the passport and I was on my way.  When you compare this against what I've seen upon returning to the states, I found it nothing less than embarrassing.

As for the airport, the bus ride was not the height of modern technology.  Essentially, as many people as physically possible were cramped into the vehicle as we motored from Terminal 2E to Terminal 2G, but here's the deal my next flight is leaving from gate G39, NOT Gate 2G39, so what's the deal?  Evidently the French just assume everyone understands there is no need to identify the Gates with prefix numbers to designate the proper terminal.  For this stupid, non-French speaking American it was confusing.

However, their 'security' procedures rival their customs procedures.  There was NO removal of shoes or belts as I had to go through security once more upon entering Terminal 2G.  Of course, I had to remove the new 'puter and all the contents of my pockets, but I carry a 1 gallon freezer bag just for that stuff.  The only thing I found strange is they run everything through the x-ray machine, including my passport and boarding pass!?!  It was however quick, efficient and with very little drama, they were processing a large number of people quickly in a very small place.

I didn't like the bus ride or their terminal layouts, but TSA could take lessons from these people in terms of being courteous, friendly and cordial.....or, at least this was MY experience this morning.

More later as my tired body and swollen foot (it's the one I dropped so many HEAVY things on multiple times over the years while farming) struggle to keep up with the events required to survive this journey...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

CLEANING THE 'IN-BOX'...

A  number of things are on topic today.  The first is a friend brought over a new suppressor he finally was able to possess after waiting 6 months for the paperwork to clear with BATFE.  It is a small unit from Advanced Armament and I have to say I was impressed.  It was a .30 caliber can and he fitted it to his Model 700 LTR in .308 Win.   It really reduced the muzzle report.  NO, it was NOT 'silent' but you didn't need hearing protection while he shot 147 gr. Hirtenberger FMJ ammo at some 100 yard targets in my back yard and bear in mind that stuff is kinda 'warm'.

As the whole world knows by now the Indianapolis Colts are releasing Peyton Manning.  My wife and I have enjoyed Colts football and we've been fans of Peyton simply because he was good entertainment, but I'm not all that distressed he's leaving.  The Colts have a problem with the NFL's salary cap and it's probably in poor taste for me to remind everyone he got paid his full salary this year for basically doing nothing.  I honestly don't think he deserves a $28 million dollar bonus, but that's just me being 'cheap'.

The problem with Manning leaving is this Andy Luck kid that every thinks the Colts should draft damn well better be good and NOT another reiteration of that clown we had prior to Peyton.  Does anyone else remember what a spoilt brat Jeff George was?  Talk about an empty promise, his was the size of an empty 747 aircraft hanger.

I'm visiting airports today with 2 scheduled layovers before I get to my destination, so more later on as progress through this trial called 'modern travel'...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

HOW MUCH AMMUNITION?...

I learned last night the bank robber that was shot over in the county seat by a member of their police force a week or so ago is alive and well and fully incarcerated in the local jail.  I guess their duty round is the .40 S&W Speer Gold Dot 155 gr. hollow point and the offender in question was struck 2 inches below the sternum on the center line of the body (if facing forward) and the projectile exited approximately 2 inches higher and just aft of the center line of the body on the left side.  No major organs or blood vessels were struck during its 'through and through' travel in this center mass hit.  I also learned the offender had no weapon, none was recovered and there is no testimony that one was ever displayed, but this event has already been ruled a justifiable police action shooting by all the authorities.  Some surprise was expressed at how quickly this offender recovered from the gunshot wound as he is suffering no ill effects from it and seems to be 'enjoying' his stay at the local gray bar hotel.

A question was raised at some place on the interweb I was surfing during my usual sleepless foray during the middle of the night as to just how much ammunition is enough?  Or how much should one stock up while anticipating the coming political apocalypse after the election this coming fall and the expected anti-gun restrictions from either President Unicorn or his alter-ego, Mittens?

Early in my firearms career and long before I started writing about this stuff I always felt that 500 rounds of centerfire ammo for each handgun caliber and 200 rounds for each center rifle caliber would suffice with the bare minimum for .22 Long Rifle being 1,000 rounds or two 'Bricks' (remember them?), but that was before I started attending good shooting schools.  Suddenly I learned that didn't even come close to what was needed.  Additionally, all those centerfire rifle rounds were for manually operated rifles; mainly bolt action types in either .22/250, .30-06 or 7mm Rem Mag.  When I started shooting 5.56x45mm caliber guns or full auto subguns, the situation changed drastically.

I also started reloading in earnest soon after I started serious shooting due to the simple economics involved.  Additionally, I should note that most all my early handguns were revolvers, which are far less finicky when it comes to reloaded ammo than what many self-loaders are.  The fact of the matter is when reloading any of the popular semi-auto calibers like 9x19mm, .40 S&W, 10mm Auto, or .45 ACP, I learned years ago that a taper crimp die is absolutely essential.  It's not needed for straight walled rounds like the .38 Special, .357 Magnum. .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, or the .45 Colt, but those self-chuckers need a solid taper crimp to insure they chamber effortlessly. 

Once you get that part down, it's pretty simple to maintain an adequate supply of handgun ammo on hand, but the important point is to find a reliable load for your favorite semi-auto and stay with it!  All too often I've seen the hobbyist continually experiment with some variation in either powder type, powder charge, bullet type ("Hey, I got these bullets or this propellant CHEAP at the last gunshow.") or some other factor in the equation and they usually wind up with the gun choking or puking either in some local competition or they become That Guy on a 12 position firing line during the training class everyone has saved up for the past 6 months. 

Don't be That Guy.

Of course, semi-auto rifles are a whole 'nuther breed of cat when it comes to reloading.  They absolutely require small base dies if you want absolutely reliable performance and here I tend to shy away from even my own reloads.  When I'm working feral hogs I rely exclusively on good quality high performance ammo whether I'm working with a bolt-gun or a semi-auto.  Everyone makes mistakes and I don't want mine to come back and haunt me (literally) when I'm in the middle of a 'firearms transaction' with a 250 pound, pissed off feral hawg, especially if we are at, shall I say, close social distances!  On those occasions I want the best projectiles available loaded in the best quality ammo that can be bought for that caliber and firearm and IF I can't afford it, I don't GO!  It's that simple.

Although I do admit that some calibers like the 6.8SPC and the 6.5 Grendel almost demand good quality handloads because the selection and availability of good quality factory ammo is so limited for these 2 calibers..  However, when I reload them for hog control I pay extreme attention to every detail in the process and check and recheck the assembled round for any dimensional flaw as well 'hand' throw and scale each individual powder charge if that round is going to be used against wayward porkers.

Of course, when I was into full-auto guns, the mindset was you can never have TOO MUCH AMMO, because in point of fact, YOU CAN'T!  I've still got stuff left over when I had the guns with a 'transmission', but thankfully I'm away from that now and no longer buy my ammo by the wooden case or the 1/2 ton load!

I was never into shotguns, so I've never reloaded shotshell ammo.  I always figured it was too complicated in terms of getting the right wad, powder type and charge together with the correct size shot, load and enough spent cases of the same type.  It was far simpler to just buy 3 or 4 boxes at the local discount big box store when it came to shot shells.

But the truth is once you admit you own 5 different reloading presses on 2 separate benches and too many sets of reloading dies to count it's pretty easy for the wife to accuse you of 'hoarding' ammo, especially when you have a separate heated out-building dedicated to just holding all that stuff. 

WHO ME?  I would 'never' hoard ammo...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

PRE-TRIP ODDS AND ENDS...

Spent the better part of the day getting some errands done because in a couple of days I'll be taking the aluminum tube across a bunch of salt water.  I'm headed to IWA.  It's been a number of years since I've been there and now since I'm 'retired' I decided the Hell with It, I'm going back to Nuremberg.

Of course, I've been emailing old contacts and everyone is sending me their cellphone numbers.  The only problem is Verizon says my blueberry won't work in Europe under any set of circumstances.  I need a "Global Plan" blueberry.  They are 'Next Day' airing one to me tomorrow that I can use for a week because I get in the aluminum tube on Wednesday.  Naturally, once I get it I have to take it over to my local provider and we have to go through the silly thing and only enable exactly what I need in terms of the bare minimum of services so I don't wind up co-signing for the national debt of Greece or Spain.

I've done a couple of other things this time that I've never done before.  I bought one of those AT&T wireless connectors for the new 'puter as well as some prepaid data/minutes.  I did the prepaid data/minutes rather than sign up for some monthly plan that I can't justify under any set of circumstances.  That should enable me to keep making posts at this location about my travails and trespasses while I visit these European haunts.

Another thing is I joined for 30 days one of those high-end airline 'lounge' clubs.  It was only $90 and I have a 7 hour layover in Paris.  I'm going to need some sleep and I figure I can use the 'club' for sleeping in a chair if nothing else without being unduly disturbed.  I know darn good and well I couldn't rent a room for $90 for 6 hours in Paris.....Well, at least NOT one I would want to stay in.  Plus, I can use this 'club' lounge as well on my return flight.

Last thing I did today was run over to Wally World and get a couple of those $1 'trial' size toothpaste tube and shaving cream canister, so I can pack that kit in my carry-on as opposed to my luggage if it gets delayed or 'lost'.  More later as the insanity increases...

All The Best,
Frank W. James

BAD STORMS LAST NIGHT...

The Midwest got hit again with another series of tornadoes last night and the far southern Indiana town of Marysville was described by the Indy Star this morning as "GONE".  And they printed a series of photos taken from an aerial view to pretty much prove it.

I feel for those people down and pray for those who lost family members.  A number are known dead.

I was living in Colorado when a tornado wiped out Monticello, the county seat of White County.  Nobody in our extended family suffered any harm, but a number of residents and those passing through were.  (A family in a van crossing a tall open bridge just as the storm hit the town was blown off the bridge to the river below and they all perished.)

Dad said the local authorities declared 'Martial Law' and wouldn't let anyone into the town except organized emergency crews, farmers with loader tractors or people with chainsaws.  I think he said they made an arbitrary rule; every 2 people had to have 1 chainsaw between them or they weren't allowed into town or even their own property.  Everyone else was told pointblank to get the Hell Away and To Stay Away!  No sightseers were welcome.  A curfew was established and the local company of the National Guard was called out to patrol the streets after dark to stop any looting.  Still, everyone in a pick-up truck had a firearm of some sort in a rear window rifle-rack.  (It was 1974.)  It was a mess and it took the town years to recover.

I moved back here to start farming with Dad in 1975 and the most startling thing to my mind was the complete absence of trees in the wide swath where the storm passed through the town on a southwest to northeast diagonal.  This area of Indiana is characterized by its flatness.  (The end result of 7 different glaciers following the last ice age.)  When you take the trees away, especially the tall, old ones, the landscape gets pretty stark and for years after the 'scars' remained.

I feel for those people in Southern Indiana this morning and wish them the very best in their recovery efforts.  I just hope their misery level is kept to the bare minimum and wish them all a quick recovery...

All The Best,
Frank W. James