Moms Shoot Free!

KevinLeave a comment

Bowling Pin match, Sunday May 13.

Yes, that’s Mother’s Day.

Usual place, the Tucson Rifle Club action range.

Time: 8:00 AM sign-up, first rounds downrange about 8:20

Handguns only: .22 rimfire, centerfire revolver (.38 caliber minimum), semi-autos (9mm minimum).

You’re welcome to shoot your revolver against the semi-auto crowd, but we think it’s more fun to shoot wheelgun-vs.-wheelgun.

Cost: $10 for the first gun, $5 for any additional guns. Moms shoot free! Bring about 100 rounds for each. (Gun, not Mom.) You probably won’t need ’em all unless you’re really good at missing fast.

Hope to see you there!

Lasik

KevinLeave a comment

I am myopic and suffer from astigmatism.  I am also presbyopic, which would normally mean my arms are too short, but in my case just means I can’t read in dim light anymore.  I’m tired of it.  I want to get my eyes fixed.  Lasik can’t fix presbyopia, but it can fix myopia and astigmatism.  I can always wear cheap reading glasses.

So, who has had Lasik surgery, and what was your outcome?  I really want to know.

“Fill Your Hands….”

KevinLeave a comment

Damon from York Arms sent me a picture tonight of my new AR-15 receiver in progress:

It’ll look better, he says, after it’s been anodized. I think it looks cool as hell already.

Note the caliber and custom serial number.

UPDATE: The upper is on order. Now I just have to wait three months….

Quote of the Day – Lawdog Edition

KevinLeave a comment

Personally, I think Loyalty Day should follow in the footsteps of our ancestors and involve fire. A Big Fire. A Big Fire in front of various State and Federal Capitals, and involving the ceremonial burning of effigies. Dancing and flowers mandatory; drinking and partying encouraged; and fertility rites optional.

To my mind I’m thinking that watching papier maiche versions of themselves burned at the stake every year would go a nice way towards reminding various political critters of where their loyalties better damn-well stay.

— The LawDog Files, Beltane

Can I get an “AMEN!”?

The Economy in Rifle Prices

KevinLeave a comment

A fascinating (for gunnies) economics article from The Market Oracle: It Can’t Happen in America?  It Already Did! Excerpts:

I am sure more than one Southern gentleman desired to own the Spencer rifle to protect his hearth and home during this era, but the 1866 Spencer Repeating Arms Catalog shows the rifle in the 44 caliber retailed for a whopping $45.00.

To a present day buyer this may not sound like a lot but let’s put this in perspective; a frame of reference, which will remain constant throughout the rest of the article.

In 1866, according to nber.org, the average weekly wage of working Americans was $41.18, (adjusted to 1866 dollar), with the average work week being estimated at sixty-four hours. The results were an hourly wage of $0.64. With this in mind it would take a worker dedicating everything they earned from 70 hours of labor to purchase a Spencer rifle.

—

In 1870 the Montgomery Wards catalog (of 1870,) advertised the Sharps (?) 7 shot repeating rifle at $50.00 still requiring the American worker to dedicate 59.25 hours a 15% reduction in hours needed to work before purchasing the rifle.

—

The 1876 Winchester catalog shows the least expensive standard New Model ‘73’ Sporting Rifle with 24 inch barrel in the 44 caliber sold for $45.00; requiring the purchaser to contribute his earning from slightly more than 47 hours of toil before claiming it, as opposed to 70 hours in 1866.

—

As the end of 1880 approached Winchester Repeating Arms August catalog reports that the Model 73 had been reduced in price by 33% to $30.00 from $45.00 in 1876. The American buying public now was able, with less then twenty-nine and a half hours of labor to purchase a Winchester, down nearly 58% from 1866.

I won’t give away the conclusion.  Instead, I urge you to give it a read.