Range Day part dos

9mm and 40S&W day

Glock 17 Gen 2 with a grip chop to a G19 size

HK P7 squeeze cocker, Germans know how to make them
Walther (also German) carry gun

40S&W

Berretta PX4 Storm (Italians can make them too)
Sig P239 (cause you cant leave out the Swiss)

A P239 in 40 isn’t just ”snappy”, its more like an overactive puppy on Red Bull.

Vacation Range Day

I have to go on vacation to get a range day. I blame the railroad.

357 Magnum, 125 grain Remington.

Man, I’m out of practice, I blame the railroad.

45 ACP, 230 grain Federal HST (carry load)

I started off pushing left. but I’m getting my groove back by the time I got to the small target above the shoulders. I finished with the top left.

I like that

I tries the Underwood Honey Badger loads. Very light for caliber and non expanding.

Not bad, but i like the HST better

On to the 44 Magnum carry gun. Speer made a 200 grain 44 Magnum Gold Dot load that does 1000FPS out of this barrel. so I load 200 grain Jacketed Flat Points to the same velocity for practice.

I like how this one shoots

At this point, the Rangemaster (who was very bored at the time) came over and said:

“Sir, if you want to show off, I’ll give you a business card”

I said…”I usually shoot playing cards, but I’m out of practice” (I blame the railroad)

”playing cards? ok. six shots double action on a playing card“

I said….ok, but five yards and no timer.

I pulled one:

Its pretty easy really.

Put the hearts (or whatever suit) on top of the sights and pull. face cards are harder.

Ironwood and Damascus

I’m finally back.

the first tapers scales I’ve tried
I did a bunch of it in the dorm at the away from home terminal
All done

I really like how the ironwood came out. No finish needed, I just sanded to 800 grit and polished on a wheel.

coming soon….

Range Day….Magnums

I haven’t been shooting since I got sick. Well, I’m back.

it’s a good day for Magnums. 357 and 44 variety

everything was shot standing at 10 yards

S&W 627 PC (Large) S&W 586L-Comp (medium) Ruger SP101 (small)
Eight to the body (Large) Seven to the head (Medium) Five to the….shoulder (Small)
one handed standing, parted his hair by pulling a shot (I hate it when that happens)
And the Big Boys, 44 Magnums. S&W 629PC and a fun gun that used to be a Ruger Super Blackhawk
I picked the wrong targets for a bright orange front sight wheel gun.

tip to bad guys, wear bright orange. I might not hit you at all.

much better

One thing I noticed.

I am WAY out of practice.

COVID damn near killed me

This stuff is not a hoax, not left/right, not Trump/Biden. It’s not political, and it damn sure isn’t the flu.
For a couple of weeks, I had a head cold. Teledoc (whom I will never use again) gave me Prednizone… 10 days later, prednisone and doxycycline. Totally dropped the ball on that one.

By the 20th, I thought I had bronchitis, deadheading from Toledo to home was rough.

Went home, tried to sleep, got nowhere…..off to the ER. COVID positive and viral pneumonia. I stayed Saturday and got antibiotics, antiviral, COVID infusion, steroids.

Monday, my O2 level was good, so I can quarantine at home. Zithromax and albuterol inhaler every six hours. For three days I improved.

the nurse from the insurance company called, checking diagnosis, etc. and she asked if we had an O2 monitor for your fingertip…no but we should get one. Good old Amazon Prime, next day shipping.

By Friday I wasn’t doing any better, Saturday morning it was obvious that I was getting worse.
When the box showed up….took it out, batteries, turn it on, put it on my finger…..64%

“I’m calling the hospital”

Now I love my wife to no end, she is the strongest and independent woman I have ever known. But we were driving (fast) and this thing on my finger beeps…52% and I’m not moving. She thought she was taking my body to the ER. I scared the hell out of her, and I owe her diamonds. I don’t remember much after that.

x-ray…oh crap……..ct scan..oh shit. I’m breathing in a teacup. Transfer to Regional.

ICU doctors are called “Intensivists” now, in record time I’ve got two IVs, tube, mask, rebreather. Stripped, strapped and six monitors doing something.

“We have you on 90 liters of 90% O2 and hour blowing into your nose, it still isn’t working well enough. We are going to put you on your stomach, I want you to concentrate on breathing. If this doesn’t get your O2 up we will have to intubate you. You focus and ride this storm out till we get some space to work with”

Great, my doc is an REO Speedwagon fan.

Saturday through Monday is nothing I ever want to do again. A week in ICU and to get off the blower. From the 27th to the 6th of March I didn’t move. I’ve lost 26 pounds (I don’t recommend the diet plan) and my muscles have atrophied badly, my mouth is full of blisters from the heavy O2. They tell me I was hours from a complete respiratory collapse and cardiac arrest.

Today, I’m up with a cane and an O2 tube following me around. By the end of the week, they may be able to release me.

This is not a joke, it’s not a meme. Not a conspiracy by “them” to control you. The survival rate may be 98% but you can go through a lot of hell and survive.

TAKE THE DAMN VACCINE.

love all you guys, thanks for the texts and concern. I really do appreciate it.

I’ll keep working and get back soon

Ric

Elmax Steel

I’ve heard about Elmax Steel, but never handled it. I found a small knife in Elmax from Bradford USA and thought I would try it. This is basically handle assembly and sharpening to see how it works.

I went back to the left over pen turning block, aluminum tube, sanded and shaped, finished with Boiled Linseed Oil.

I like this steel, it holds an edge extremely well and it’s fairly light. I just ordered a 12×2 inch flat stock to make my own.

we will see how easy it is to work with.