We're the Military and Airpower Guys of Jonah Goldberg of National Review Online + a stray we found wandering around looking lost. All original material JHD, BHD, JR, WT, and KA 2003-2007 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:51:01 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification Good times! I'll have more during the week - but let's cut to the chase. The shooting. First off - SWWBO shoots her first 5.56mm carbine - Say Uncle's rifle. While I don't have a pic of her target - her group at 25 yards would fit inside an Eisenhower silver dollar. The Armorer got to shoot many rifles yesterday. Smallest Minority's M1 Garand (a 1943 Springfield, Danish return), with which the Armorer was able to keep his groups within the black at 25 meters firing rapid fire, and was pinging a spinning target at 425 yards (iron sights). Okay,... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html Sun, 08 Oct 2006 11:45:59 -0600 I didn't find Nevada, Bill. The hired help that sits up front did. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51403 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51403 Tue, 10 Oct 2006 06:45:56 -0600 Boq - Peace Through Superior Firepower. Personally, I'm not surprised that John ventilated the black, but I am kinda thunderstruck that he found Nevada... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51401 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51401 Tue, 10 Oct 2006 00:05:28 -0600 Teresa Cafarelli de Francisci was easier to the eyes than that Ol' War Dog. ]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51373 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51373 Mon, 09 Oct 2006 10:16:07 -0600 The case ruptures may not be uncommon - and in a bolt gun they're mostly an annoyance - but in a semi they can be dangerous if they come much farther back than that crack did. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51370 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51370 Mon, 09 Oct 2006 08:37:48 -0600 Speaking of resonance and vibrations, I think it was Vitruvius who wrote that an artilleryman should be good at music. Gotta tune them catapultae and ballistae just right. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51364 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51364 Mon, 09 Oct 2006 03:21:47 -0600 Ah, that's resonant *frequencies." Sorry about that. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51363 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51363 Mon, 09 Oct 2006 03:17:43 -0600 Umm, Trias, I think there is some physics involved; may have to do with resonant frequncies and vibrations, and if the muzzle of the piece is always waving in the same direction each time a bullet comes out of it. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51361 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51361 Mon, 09 Oct 2006 02:56:47 -0600 Well, John's not shaped like a rifle cartridge at all. But a Round, now ... *scurries away quickly* http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51359 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51359 Mon, 09 Oct 2006 00:53:22 -0600 The odd shape on the round or on John? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51357 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51357 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 23:43:30 -0600 Why does the bayonet have to be extended? Does it balance it or something? You know i think i've only just discovered the round has the bullet which actually flies out but the casing stays where it is. I finally understand why the odd shape. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51355 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51355 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 23:25:58 -0600 And, Ry - the *integral* magazine of the M1 Garand is fed by... a clip. Clips feed magazines. Magazines feed the beast. It is probably the M1 that caused the rift in the space-time continuum that causes the word "clip" to be used in place of "magazine" in the common argot. Do you need further schooling, weedhopper? As for the bayonet snarks - the M44 bayonet is an integral folder, and a pointy sticker, at that, and therefore not likely to be misused by me in a manner to produce the effects alluded to by BCR and Brab. And yes, owners-of-combloc weapons... if your bangstick has a pigsticker option, whether integral or snap-on, the factory default setting is... bayonet attached/extended. As Rivrdog found when he extended the tent-peg on his M44 and found... groupness. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51353 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51353 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 22:51:34 -0600 The Master pointed out to the Student that the bayonet on an M44 must always be extended while firing. He is most assuredly right, as I scattered the first five all over a target, but put a respectable (but not as respectable as the Master's) group together after I extended the pigsticker. So far, so good on the Windex flush of the weapon after firin g the corrosive ammo. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51351 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51351 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 22:03:28 -0600 Did he say 'clip' instead of 'magazine'? Care to explain, Massa John? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51350 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51350 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 20:58:54 -0600 Those case ruptures ain't uncommon- I had more than a few with some 70's Czech milsurp this summer. But it didn't affect the functioning of the arm, so no big deal. Sometimes a rupture like that will prevent extraction but that AK kept popping away- we only noticed the ruptures after the fact. Nice looking range... sigh. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51349 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51349 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 19:42:45 -0600 I believe the restriction is lifted somewhat when a supervising authority is within range ... ie. the Lady of the Castle. Since she was present, bayonets may be allowed - as long as OTHERS affix them in place!! Heh. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51345 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51345 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 16:44:05 -0600 I thought you were on a strict no-bayonet diet. Did SWWBO approve? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51344 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2006/10/gunblogger_rendezvous.html#comment-51344 Sun, 08 Oct 2006 14:58:24 -0600