Locked, Cocked and Ready to Rock

The new Sig Sauer P226 9mm that I picked up finally made its paces at the range today, pulling down 100 rounds without a jam. The only problem that currently exists is with the magazine springs, which are not worn in, yet.  Otherwise, this weapon is a dream.  It also gave me time to work on some of the terrible habits that I've picked up in the interim 5 years since I last fired a weapon at a range.

Those habits, while common, are not difficult to correct, as long as you dedicate a little time and thought to them.  Of course, you have to think about them all the time.

Here are my first 50 rounds at the range maximum 50 Feet:

If you're familiar with firing techniques, you'll note that 1) I'm anticipating the trigger pull 2) I'm flinching and 3) the weapon is not correctly sighted.  The front sight is fine, but the back sight needs a light right adjustment.

I was able to correct, with a little work, most of these problems:

The first round, in the upper left was a combination of the mis-aligned sight and the trigger pull anticipation from first Double action round, I need to work on that first round for sure, if my intention is to try  USPSA tournaments.  The farther out rounds were from the first magazine in that set.  I was working on shooting between breaths correctly and not flinching, mostly because the rounds were bouncing back at my eyes (one landed on my face, behind my glasses).  You'll notice that I corrected most of my flinching problem, and almost all the trigger pull anticipation, leading to a solid midrange grouping.  The sights still need adjustment, but when I adjusted for the sight, I hit the bullseye ring 6 times.

We'll see how it goes from here, I obviously need more work.

New Horizons in Art Appreciation

This is the star of my new favorite show, "Sister Wendy". Her name is Sister Wendy. Her show is in a documentary format--she tours different art museums in the U.S. and Europe and showcases various works of art.
I love Sister Wendy!! She is so enthusiastic about art, and she wants everyone to share her passion. As you can see from the picture, she has buck teeth--but what you can't see is that she has a British accent--and a lisp. What a combination! For some reason, it's very endearing. As one of the reviewers on Amazon said, "You can't help but fall a little bit in love with her". Definitely true, but hard to convey in a written editorial.
Sister Wendy has an amazingly deep understanding of art, and she is really good at explaining her interpretation for anyone to understand. In addition to the lisping British accent, she has amazing vocal range. She doesn't speak loudly, and she really has a small dynamic range, but she is able to make everything she says sound intensely intelligent and important. In one segment, she was talking about a Korean pitcher that had some sculpted figures near the top of the handle, and she mentioned how the Koreans that used it must have felt such joy whenever they went to pour water out of the pitcher. She always likes to make speculations about the people that painted, used, or were some way involved in a work of art.
Another thing I really like about her show is that it isn't religious. She picks a great range of art--ancient Chinese scrolls, Buddhist sculptures, modern female artists (as well as the old standards)--not at all what you would imagine a nun would choose. And she approaches them all with an unbiased and sacred viewpoint.
I tried to find a clip on YouTube to give you an idea, but I wasn't able to find anything good. There is an interview with Bill Moyers on there, which was interesting, but not the same as watching the show. You'll have to get it from Netflix if you want to check it out.

Every Yard is a War

Anyone who knows me from a peripheral standpoint would say that I'm cheap.

I'll fight anyone over 75 cents if it means I win a battle. That's not to say that I'm cheap, though, it's a misconception. People who know me better know that I just really like fighting with people. And in that same manner, if I am undercharged, I will make a point to bring it to their attention.

However, today, I won my war. They let me trade the gun in.



I got a 'nicer' piece. It's slightly larger, with a tactical rail and night sights. Chambered in a 9mm, it's sure to save me money in the long run over ammo. Not that I've ever been a huge fan of the 9mm Parabellum. But it's not like I'm actually going to shoot anyone.

Really.

I promise.

Most Dangerous Game

Shooting is one of those cataclysmically testosterone laden "sports" that it is considered wholly unmanly to say you don't like. Or that after trying, you simply with not to participate further in.

This in mind, I absolutely love it. It's quite a rush when a small explosion leaves the cradled steel centered in the palm of your hand and decimates the piece of paper at the end of the line. The .40 Caliber Smith and Wesson round was a joy to fire, but the .357 sig round was the real winner in my hand.

There is a small problem, however. The used firearm that I purchased from Gander Mountain is malfunctioning, making it wholly unsafe for a target shooting pistol, much less a carry weapon. In 200 rounds, the weapon mis-fired more than 20 times. It is also not sighted correctly, or the barrel sits down and right. Markings on the barrel indicate that this might be more than a problem.

Yes, I did clean and lubricate it prior to shooting.

I can only hope that Gander will take this pistol as a return credit towards the purchase of another weapon. I wholly enjoyed shooting (as I once did), and hope to clear away the bad habits that 5 years away from a range has seen me develop. I'm back to flinching again, which another trip to the range should alleviate. My muzzle control requires a bit of work, since I'm over compensating due to the action of the pistol. The slide forces the pistol up, the explosion back, where a rifle is mostly just back.

A couple of good things remained: My grouping at 25 yards is tight enough that the rounds enter on top of other hits, at 40 yards, this extends out to 4 inches or so, but I, after learning where the weapon should be pointed in relation to the sight, was able to consistently hit the bulls-eye (I mean the X, not the circle).

Overall, I really enjoy the Sig P229, but am sad to say that it has to go. It's a fantastic carry weapon, but given my situation, I doubt I'll be able to buy a Sig used again.

Forgotten Promises

After years of promising myself that I'd buy a handgun, the time has finally arrived. I'm only 3 years later than I had originally intended, and believe me, that is a record of sorts. I'm usually much slower.

I purchased mine, used, at Gander Mountain. Believe me, if there are two characters who look out of place at Gander Mountain, it's me and Bambi.

None the less, the experience was pleasant, and the two gentlemen who helped me Chuck and Tom were very polite and helpful.

My purchase was preowned, but I saved an immense amount of money over new and the gun (it hurts me to use that word, considering how many push ups I've had looked like it was in great shape. Overall, I'm fairly happy with it.

My concern, through my limited firearms experience, is that the weapon was not properly cleaned and lubricated before sale. I'm not sure exactly what their policy on this is, as they did give me a voucher for a free cleaning and inspection, thought you'd assume they'd clean and inspect a weapon they purchased to resell yes?

Anyway, I'm headed to the range on Saturday. My brother and his friend in tow. We'll put a few down. I'll try to remember my camera.

You Dirty Son of A Bitch

There has been a lot of debate as to whether or not Sony should be replacing a certain someone's Playstation 3 under warranty for free or for $150.

At first, on this debate, I sided with the crowd who said "Yes, they should fix it for free, it's their shit." That is, I was, until I saw pictures.






At The Consumerist, where I got these pictures, there is a debate and a poll about this same subject. The poll stands at about 55/45 in favor of Sony replacing this disgusting monolith for free. My personal belief is that this person's neglect of general maintenance has contributed to the failure of the unit. It doesn't take much to wipe off your Playstation 3, much less occasionally blow out dust, as I do with all 3 of my consoles, my surround sound system and my television.

The general rule of thumb, or rule of wrist in this situation, is that taking care of your shit makes it last longer. That's why, after a year and a half of service, my delightful MacBook and my wife's 2 year old Sony laptop are both in relatively good condition (I have stress cracks on the corner of my notebook, due to a poor choice in plastics, my wife's computer is mint) and my brother's Dell is duct taped at the hinges and around the monitor. At around the same age.

He believes that he will wring out another 6 months.

I just disassembled it to remove a screw mount that was rolling around and causing leads to short and smoke.

Fox News stuck their big nose into the Playstation 3 fuckup's situation, too. I don't know if you'd heard about it.

They used an actor to portray the guy.

Why? Probably because this guy knows he'd never get another date once someone figured out how abso-fuckin'-lutely filthy he is.

Update: I don't actually believe that the kid on fox news is the kid with the nasty ps3. In the off-chance that I'm wrong, I hope this shit kills his career.

An Oddity of Sorts

My brother has always had an interest in firearms. Actually, interest would be blunting the Katana.

My brother is obsessed with guns.

I've always had more than a passing interest myself, as the amount of engineering that goes in to each and every one of those things is incredible. That and they are really fun to shoot at a range.

My personal experience with firearms are limited to the M16A2 (bang bang), the M249 SAW (tukka tukka tukka), the M92f (Beretta) 9mm (Pop pop), and the M82 Barrett 50 Cal (BOOM!).

It was enjoyable, but grim experience when the only thing your told is that you're going to have to do this to a person someday.

It's an entirely different feeling to think that you can purchase one and do it to a piece of steel or paper instead, and no one is firing back at you. Or over you.

I have an irrational fear that my permit to purchase will be denied by the fair city of Apple Valley. I've never been arrested for anything. And still I worry.

Here's the one I picked out:


Only problem is... after that one... there are 10 more.