tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post8378490480886711431..comments2023-11-10T04:17:00.492-05:00Comments on View From The Porch: Everybody's an expert.Tamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-80817302778305681852008-07-29T04:35:00.000-04:002008-07-29T04:35:00.000-04:00as to why you should listen?cos even a complete id...as to why you should listen?<BR/>cos even a complete id10t might just have a thought, or point of view that hadn't occurred to you before. If nothing else, it just might give you a laugh.<BR/><BR/>Just remember when I disagree with you, it's always respectful. Because I do treasure and adore your opinion and attitude. Mostly though, despite the fact that 1700 miles separate us, you couldn't miss my fat tush with your sweet foot at any range.John Bhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04875185117306503147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-76602364077826117602008-07-27T22:31:00.000-04:002008-07-27T22:31:00.000-04:00Mosin-Nagants for the win!Mosin-Nagants for the win!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-42405732885799641982008-07-27T14:49:00.000-04:002008-07-27T14:49:00.000-04:00Fools.Everybody kno that:Adamantium is +5.56Han's ...Fools.<BR/><BR/>Everybody kno that:<BR/><BR/>Adamantium is +5.56<BR/><BR/>Han's Blaster is +6.8<BR/><BR/>Solo wins.<BR/><BR/>Marry me Tam.<BR/><BR/>dbAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-86415558127985979082008-07-26T01:06:00.000-04:002008-07-26T01:06:00.000-04:00O.K., here goes. One and a half tours with Uncle S...O.K., here goes. One and a half tours with Uncle Sam's Misguided Children, MOS 2111, Bravo 1/5. Engineer at Colts, M-4 project. Ran Q.C. and design at Continental Machine Co for 8 years (Stag, Rock River, Bushmaster, and some Armalite). <BR/> I designed the left handed upper Mark has been taking credit for, and they still haven't done anything with the .22rf conversion I patented and signed over. But, I have hopes for the new .50 cal, so I won't make waves. Design engineer at Smith and Wesson (great revolvers, O.K. semi-autos, shabby to unsafe longarms), but I bailed in a hurry when I found out the rifle program was being run by lunatics. <BR/> Worked with Mack Gwinn up at MGI industries, developing his switch barrel, switch magwell AR, and hope to finish up the beltfeed for it in the next few weeks. So,I think I'm competent to comment. <BR/> I was massively bummed when they took most of our M-14's away, but I soon noticed something that made scientific sense years later. <BR/> With a jacketed bullet, diameter doesn't matter, velocity does. Hydrostatic shock and penetration are pretty much the entire show in a military cartridge. <BR/> With softpoint bullets (which I favor for non-uniformed scum) the situation changes dramatically. All that extra lead mushrooming spreads the projo's energy quite effectively, spending it inside the target instead of pushing gravel half a mile beyond it. <BR/> As for the stories about Abdul taking 5 or 6 hits and still returning fire, it's actually been true a few dozen times, after being hit with both 5.56mm and 7.62mm. Thank the tens of thousands of syringes found after almost any Iraqi firefight, filled with massive doses of adrenaline. <BR/> The Marine Corp (admittedly using 20 inch barrels and the fragile, "splatable" 77 grain Sierra Matchking bullet) have had no problems putting down non drugged up Afganis out to almost half a mile, even though they're bigger, tougher, and a whole world meaner than Arabs. <BR/> As for the famous M-16 "unreliability", Bullshit. I carried the weapon for 3 years, I have been responsible for the production of more than half a million of them in the last 15 or so years, and it just doesn't happen in a combat unit. Do you honestly think people would knowingly go in harms way with weapons that don't work, and not tell anybody? <BR/> O.K., perhaps my personal experiences were atypical, or my memory is getting a bit clouded. Let's consider the opinions of folks more current than me. <BR/> A friend of mine, Bobby Cromer, returned from Afganistan a few months ago, after serving in security and counter sniper jobs with the 10th Mountain Division, covering mine removal teams. <BR/> Not a word about reliability problems, in one of the driest, dustiest places on earth. Although I did have to send his unit quite a few charging handles about half way through the tour. They do take a beating from the grit. <BR/> Next case, J.B. Stern, a SEAL buddy and former Marine who just returned from his fifth tour, one in Afganistan, four in Iraq. He's doing quite nicely on the titanium knee he won in Haditha. Again, not a word about the weapon doing anything but work. <BR/> I mentioned Mack Gwinn up at MGI. You hear all kinds of sea stories in the firearms industry, so I had my brother Ray, a retired Navy Commander, check him out through the Officer's Association. His comment was"two thirds of his record is still blacked out, but what's available reads like three John Wayne movies back to back".<BR/> The most decorated SEAL still living is CPO Wilson. Supposedly, he runs off for three or four pages in his biography about some whack-job Special Forces Captain he worked with named Gwinn. I think the bonafides are reasonably well established.<BR/> Mack ran CIA operations in Laos for 9 years, 2 of which were spent in hospitals. With the exception of a doorgunner I know who was wise enough to not use tracers, he's probably killed more badguys than any other person I have met. Tell him the -16 jams all the time, and expect a VERY salty response.<BR/> As a bit of related history, after retiring from the Army in '72, he settled in Maine and, with nothing but his pension and 13 purple hearts, started a little thing called Bushmaster. <BR/> Moving along to shooting buddy Air Force Captain Ken Hagenow, who trains designated marksmen down at Ft. Benning. Reliability, long range markmanship? The norm is head sized groups all day at 500 meters. <BR/> Simple fact: the weapon has been type improved for 40 years, and gets better and better, regardless of what the gun store commandos preach. Anything that uses an M-16 magazine but is not a -16 is inferior to the real deal. <BR/> Go to any rifle match in the U.S. today, and you will see M-16's and AR's taking every trophy, at 200, 300, 600, and 1,000 yards. Lots of guys are using the 6.8mmSPC as a cheater round at 600, but the 77 grain load works as well in the 5.56. <BR/> The NRA actually had to start a new class for my beloved old M-14/M1A, because it couldn't compete with the AR's, even at 600 or 1,000yards. <BR/> If the AK is so wonderful, why is it that the Russians, the people who invented it, have replaced it with a clone of the M-16, which they claim gets 200% more hits than the Kalasnikov and doubles it's effective range? <BR/> The AK was designed as a full automatic replacement for the otherwise superior SKS (which is lighter, somewhat more accurate, much better pointing and handling). <BR/> If you're not doing full auto fire at less than 200 meters, you're not using the weapon in the only area if has any real worth.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-68488854983331450822008-07-25T16:46:00.000-04:002008-07-25T16:46:00.000-04:00To be fair, that was about as sanguine as I expect...To be fair, that was about as sanguine as I expected.Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-26910438810930448082008-07-25T15:08:00.000-04:002008-07-25T15:08:00.000-04:00"I try and make it abundantly clear that my observ...<I>"I try and make it abundantly clear that my observations are purely based on what I've seen break, my own hands-on experience, and information gleaned from people I trust as SME's "</I><BR/><BR/>Yup. Two years in the South African Army, and sundry "tours" to combat zones, coupled with some visits to Army field hospitals, all happen to have given me some small background when it comes to discussing military rifles.<BR/><BR/>Also fortunately, my milserv happened to coincide with the substitution of the Galil (R4) for the R1 (FN-FAL), so I have some small passing familiarity with the effective differences between the 7.62 Nato, 5.56 Nato, and the 7.62 Soviet.<BR/><BR/>As for "knockdown power": I don't bother with any of the Sanow stuff, and try to apply some geek formulae to make a case. What I saw was a goblin absorb 7 torso hits with 9mm FMJ and continue to threaten until his little rampage was ended by a single chest hit from a 7.62 Nato bullet.<BR/><BR/>My experience with centerfire guns, therefore, happens to be a little more ummm <I>personal</I> than exchanging them for money over a shop counter or playing cop/soldier at some tacticool training center (both of which I've also done, by the way).<BR/><BR/>None of which matters, really, because the post in question was all about the .mil's intransigence in replacing a weapon wihch is manifestly inferior, with one which actually works.<BR/><BR/>I even beseeched people not to start the platform/caliber arguments, but I have little control over how people respond in my comments section. <BR/><BR/>It had very little to do with my knowledge of firearms -- which, as I always stress, is limited to the shooting thereof, and not much to the mechanics.<BR/><BR/>I know an absolute <I>shitload</I> about supermarket card programs, however, and you debate me on that issue at your peril.<BR/><BR/>Nice knowing you, Tam.Kim du Toithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06157567080411432375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-24461286497195632792008-07-25T12:22:00.000-04:002008-07-25T12:22:00.000-04:00Rifling ... bah.It's just a passing fad.Rifling ... bah.<BR/><BR/>It's just a passing fad.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-90432062262915616892008-07-25T10:23:00.000-04:002008-07-25T10:23:00.000-04:009mm is better if you have an unobtanium shoulder t...9mm is better <I>if</I> you have an unobtanium shoulder thing that goes up. It's worth an extra 24 furlongs per fortnight muzzle velocity, easy.<BR/><BR/>Owlau: What they call the owlery at Durmstrang, I think.Kenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780425923108876647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-71519107195562886242008-07-25T07:47:00.000-04:002008-07-25T07:47:00.000-04:00Gun discussions are politics and religion wound up...Gun discussions are politics and religion wound up into one issue, with the corresponding effects.Jeffrohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06873138122305060834noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-28110749042586115332008-07-25T00:35:00.000-04:002008-07-25T00:35:00.000-04:00I was not too happy at Kim's post, but because I s...I was not too happy at Kim's post, but because I see another weapon purchased for the worst reasons and given to soldiers because it will be better for ( fill in your favorite ). I served in an army that picked up three fool weapons, two of them for some mistaken belief that women couldn't handle what the military had and one that had to have tracks to keep the infantry armored up with the tankers... but then I only had to use them as best I could - and I survived, so they must have been a success.Right? Wait until the next war to pick your battle rifles and give it to the grunts in the Army and Corps to play with and break and fix and use... legislative aides don't cut it. Ah, well, and ironing all the shirts had mellowed me out - until I heard from the experts about too many things. When you decide what the military should arm up with Tam, tell me and we will work on Congress.Earlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14794620086508373660noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-11983913539940346112008-07-25T00:31:00.000-04:002008-07-25T00:31:00.000-04:00Right up front. My patent is 6,079,138. Permits a ...Right up front. My patent is 6,079,138. Permits a 24 inch barrel in a 28 inch rifle. With a longer barrel the 5.56 has greater effectiveness. I like straight down ejection, so that you can use left or right handed firing, for better use of cover.<BR/><BR/>In house to house, I like 12 gauge shotgun, so 25 each .30 caliber pellets (number 1 shot) can each have a chance to take out my opponent's spinal chord. Can't fight to well with no spinal chord.<BR/><BR/>The 5.56 is great when you don't know quite where the bad guy is. The 7.62 is better when you do, or when you need the bullet to blow through concrete blocks first. But for arms length social situations, a 12 gauge gives you multiple chances to hit and kill.Don Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06057058763094040058noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-43748055782931017782008-07-24T23:01:00.000-04:002008-07-24T23:01:00.000-04:00I understand the framulators have been redesigned....I understand the framulators have been redesigned.<BR/><BR/>Verification word zhtamstaghoundshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05976667812875074135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-47855533707312262222008-07-24T22:14:00.000-04:002008-07-24T22:14:00.000-04:00HTRN,"Tam, not to step on any toes, but by your lo...HTRN,<BR/><BR/>"<I>Tam, not to step on any toes, but by your logic, you should only be commenting on the selling of firearms, not the quality, or elegance of design.</I>"<BR/><BR/>I try and make it abundantly clear that my observations are purely based on what I've seen break, my own hands-on experience, and information gleaned from people I trust as SME's (and I'm leery with handing out that trust.)<BR/><BR/>I always try and make sure that I include plenty of qualifiers and that I am in no way speaking <I>ex cathedra</I>, unlike certain other commentators.<BR/><BR/>But If I say "I wouldn't buy a Brand X because ten out of twelve that we sold over a six month period were returned with broken framulators", then you can cool believe that what I said was true.Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-58921262218890120852008-07-24T21:47:00.000-04:002008-07-24T21:47:00.000-04:00On the gun blogs I have read, many people post abo...On the gun blogs I have read, many people post about personal experiences. I have noticed that not very many of them are able to differentiate between personal opinion and factual information. <BR/>So, to many posters, personal experience becomes fact, since it is all they know.<BR/><BR/>I get a kick out of the "9mm vs. .45" debate. I think it's more about shot placement, myself....:)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-60965956997772240212008-07-24T21:35:00.000-04:002008-07-24T21:35:00.000-04:00Tam, not to step on any toes, but by your logic, y...Tam, not to step on any toes, but by your logic, you should only be commenting on the selling of firearms, not the quality, or elegance of design.<BR/><BR/>Lets face it, to really wear that "expurt" badge, one should really have a Mech E. degree, and real world experience in the design, manufacture, and testing of firearms, and honestly, is there anybody like this blogging about them?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-28610081881345195572008-07-24T20:23:00.000-04:002008-07-24T20:23:00.000-04:00I view the gun boards as a collective pile of comm...I view the gun boards as a collective pile of comments with a few nuggets of real knowledge. The key is to figure out what is what.<BR/><BR/>I continoually follow the same topics and keep up with all of the different posts then store them on my computer. I sort them out into related topics and then I can search for trends and learnings.<BR/><BR/>This approach works great for reloading or the like. Truly bs responses stick out badly when compared to the collective experience. <BR/><BR/>The problem with this approach is dogma. Therefore one must keep an open mind and verify internet facts.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-87141146948784035062008-07-24T20:21:00.000-04:002008-07-24T20:21:00.000-04:00""Wolverine v. Han Solo"Wolverine wins, of course...."<I>"Wolverine v. Han Solo"<BR/><BR/>Wolverine wins, of course. He's got the Adamantium Advantage.</I>"<BR/><BR/>Nah - Han's got the luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-58446387978416516202008-07-24T18:54:00.000-04:002008-07-24T18:54:00.000-04:00"What is, bar none, the best possible card for all..."<I>What is, bar none, the best possible card for all around shopping use, and anyone using a different one is a fag?</I>"<BR/><BR/>LOL! :D<BR/><BR/>BTW, they just opened a Fresh Market around the corner. I like Fresh Market, because I do not need to keep plebeian dogtags on my keychain to shop there. ;)Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-25614282135731907582008-07-24T18:49:00.000-04:002008-07-24T18:49:00.000-04:00I don't know...KdT's served in the South African m...I don't know...KdT's served in the South African military and seems to have hinted that he's either shot or been immediately been present when attackers were shot (I don't know about rifles, but he's made it all-but-for-sure that he's seen it happen with 9mm ball ammo). If what he's saying about these things is a somewhat roundabout way of describing what he's seen happen firsthand to men being shot then that gives him a leg up on the discussion, even if he's using debunked terms to describe a concept.HokiePundithttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649933279845677962noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-34803841518664652822008-07-24T18:39:00.001-04:002008-07-24T18:39:00.001-04:00Reno,Yea, I've bitched here before about how silly...Reno,<BR/><BR/>Yea, I've <A HREF="http://booksbikesboomsticks.blogspot.com/2005/12/blog-stuff-i-weep-for-future-of.html" REL="nofollow">bitched here before</A> about how silly and impassioned folks can get about these things.Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-75578208897328494432008-07-24T18:39:00.000-04:002008-07-24T18:39:00.000-04:00GeorgeH, your point about American Rifleman and he...GeorgeH, your point about American Rifleman and heated opinions reminds me of the Great Disaster that befell the Winchester Model 70 in 1964.<BR/><BR/>Everybody knows what happened concurrent to the redesign: the skies darkened, the Earth trembled, the dead rose from their graves, and life has been a hollow mockery ever since.<BR/><BR/>So last year sometime I read an article in Rifleman by somebody who wanted to see what the reaction was at the time. He searched and... nothing. Nada, zip, the big goose egg. Winchester blasphemed against nature and nobody complained. The phenomenon grew up long after the redesign, when gun people retroactively decided that it was The Worst Thing Ever.<BR/><BR/>Oh, and don't get snide about the secret sauce. Although I prefer to call it "gunstock paste." It does a terrific job on my M1 Garands and Carbine.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-22458793232365328482008-07-24T18:24:00.000-04:002008-07-24T18:24:00.000-04:00It's just amazing how we get so... invested in the...It's just amazing how we get so... invested in these matters. I once had guy put a knife to my throat because I voiced disdain for Zepp's Physical Graffiti.<BR/><BR/>Ahhhh good times.Reno Sepulvedahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12043842171416106634noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-28093954168850597512008-07-24T18:05:00.000-04:002008-07-24T18:05:00.000-04:00"There's seldom one right answer."What?!?Heresy! B..."<I>There's seldom one right answer.</I>"<BR/><BR/>What?!?<BR/><BR/>Heresy! <I>Blasphemer</I>!Tamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07285540310465422476noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-46600147134895357742008-07-24T17:53:00.000-04:002008-07-24T17:53:00.000-04:00You mean that there is someone who takes him serio...You mean that there is someone who takes him seriously? I'm always afraid to go near that site in case his ego fell over and crushed my computer.Jameshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05993938643115716912noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15907727.post-1601786304654661242008-07-24T17:44:00.000-04:002008-07-24T17:44:00.000-04:00And if you read century old gun magazines, or cent...And if you read century old gun magazines, or century and a half old gun books, you'll see the same controversies. <BR/><BR/>There's seldom one right answer.staghoundshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05976667812875074135noreply@blogger.com