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/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 16:10:06 Z Movable Type 4.12 en Copyright 2008 http://www.rssboard.org/rss-specification When your internet access is slow, television blows, and what the heck, you own a farm with a pond, gotta get water for the horses, own a few guns, and have some time on your hands... what's an Armorer to do? Well, go shoot, of course. But for a noble purpose! To break up the ice on the pond so the horses can get to it to drink... At the same time, I can show off the Castle's newest acquistion... SWWBO's Christmas present. That's right, guys, I got my wife a rifle for Christmas and it was *appreciated!* I bask... http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html Fri, 21 Dec 2007 08:30:43 -0600 Life is short. Amuse yerself while looking out for the livestock, even if it involves making loud noises. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67862 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67862 Sun, 23 Dec 2007 01:44:28 -0600 Jim, Hooah! to the Son. As for your other suggestion, sure, I could buy some large plastic stock tanks, and put a heater in 'em. And then... run 100 meters or so of hose, wrapped with heat tape, to keep 'em filled... or trench out a water line from the house main and only heat tape the exposed portions... meaning run power out there, too. Or get a water tank for the Ranger and SWWBO could schlep water out there daily. Prolly better to just get a surplus water buffalo (water trailer to you non-military types) that we can schlep around... Or, I could just go shoot 10 rounds or so every other day (the horses oft times keep the area clear). This is the Castle, man. What do you think I'm going to do? We do use a heater for the birds, however. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67854 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67854 Sat, 22 Dec 2007 08:12:04 -0600 Here's a thought buy a stock tank or two and be sure the horses have a drink when they want it without expending rounds multidaily. Side note ... the son completed Robin Sage and is now qualified to wear the Green Beret as an 18 Echo. He is home for Christmas... I can't tell you how happy his family is ... and he returns to Bragg New Year's Eve to graduate from the JFK School of Special Warfare on the 11th of Jan. Then a bit more leave here at home ... and then to a unit that typically deploys to Afganistan. Life is good! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67852 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67852 Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:39:51 -0600 P.s. There is probably a hundred times more, I betcha,of weight of lead fishing sinkers in that pond, than of bullets. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67851 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67851 Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:12:31 -0600 Well, yeah, Trias, but not enough that any critter would notice, I reckon. Do the math. Concentration counts for a lot, in chemistry. This is not waterfowl scarfing down itty bitty lead shot with their mud dinners; those pieces shoot big jacketed bullets, not what any bird would pick as good gizzard gravel. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67850 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67850 Sat, 22 Dec 2007 00:00:14 -0600 one version. Cheers]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67849 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67849 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 22:15:10 -0600 Do the metals and other materials in bullets contaminate water? http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67847 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67847 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 21:14:51 -0600 P.s. I think I've seen a pic on the Web somewhere, of a sawed-off compressed-gas bottle converted into a mortar which throws bowling balls. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67846 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67846 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:56:31 -0600 Damian wins the thread. Some kinda mortar would obviously work better, projo comes straight down, something like the coehorn anti-kitty mortar we know about. Hmm, I wonder what's possible without provoking BATFEcal reactions. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67845 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67845 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 20:42:01 -0600 Very good, Sir! My wife has the Bushmaster with the 20" heavy barrel, shoots rabid thingies and coyotes with it too. She also has that tricked out Glock 23 in .40 calibre she carries for woods-walking and shopping. I taught her to shoot, (I'm a old drill sergeant and Top-Team Sniper, USA) and she is an excellent student. She loves me, too...weird! Merry Christmas, and God Bless you and yours! With you in thought and cares, ParatroopRN http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67843 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67843 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:58:10 -0600 Damn, man, you look good- you've lost a bunch since I saw you last, or the picture has taken forty pounds off you. Nice boomsticks. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67842 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67842 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 19:38:57 -0600 Soooooo, you have a pond eh? A nice, big pond with lily pads? Do the haunting croaks of 'ribbet, ribbet' invade your REM sleep? Not like anyone else will understand this... /snerk http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67840 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67840 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 18:01:36 -0600 Very nice! And add me to the "lucky guy" list Mrs. Pogue (aka "Her Accuracy") has her own gun safe. While hers and my collection don't rival the Armorer's, it's still enough to get the brady bunch hyperventilating. Have you considered trying .45-70 for ice breaking duty? Once in a while it's fun to feel that kick! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67837 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67837 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:32:01 -0600 I would think a shotgun would be more effective then a rifle because you get a larger punch into the ice. Or better yet take black power pour into plastic jug and let the explosive breakup the ice. Also you don't have the lead in the water to upset the fish or horses with the funny after taste of lead. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67836 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67836 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 16:01:33 -0600 Well, if you were going to get closer, I would suggest a Mosin of the M38 or M44 flavor, because of the rather large muzzle blast. Hey, don't you have that reduced scale blackpowder cannon? Load that bad boy with grape shot and go for it! http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67835 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67835 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:58:36 -0600 ... needs a kilt, ... or some woad. Cheers http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67834 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67834 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 14:31:47 -0600 The love-child of Burl Ives and John Wayne. http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67832 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67832 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 13:29:27 -0600 Sweet! Heck, the whole entry (including the picture). I'd expect the 7.62x54R to do better - the round is what, twice the size and with a bullet three times the mass? But SWBO's new toy can deliver those smaller rounds a lot quicker. And I'll bet you just don't want to give her a bayonet for reasons of, shall we say... personal safety (what with your tendency to attract the pointy end). Oh - you should submit that final photo to http://www.peopleofthegun.com]]> http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67831 http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2007/12/unscientific_fi.html#comment-67831 Fri, 21 Dec 2007 12:20:06 -0600