Something a little different to post today.

Been light posting lately since things are starting to gear up for the winter months around here. Winter in Cincinnati is a strange breed. Sometimes things actually look like winter but for only a week at a time. Those that talk about global warming probably grew up here. LOL The only bad winter I can really remember was in '76 and I remember the snow drift that buried the front of my Dad's house. Other than that we tend to get hammered once or twice and the rest of the time its either trying to make up its mind or leaning towards summer.

I picked up a Chevy Tahoe for a parts car to repair my truck this past weekend. That has been taking up a lot of my time. I didn't 'Need' the repairs that I have been doing but 'parts is parts' right? So I took the powered seats out of the beast and installed them along with the center console in my truck. I am in the process right now of swapping the doors out. Mine are rather beat up and the hinge pins are worn out. I did purchase the new pins but the new doors actually have power windows that I have rigged to a bank of switches in the center console. I finished the Passenger door today before it started getting dark. Tomorrow is more of the same for me since we aren't working on any houses tomorrow.

The biggest reason I wanted the Tahoe is for the Differentials. The Guy I purchased the truck from swapped out the rear Axle and didn't match it to the front one. Because of that I have not been able to engage the 4X4 aspect of the truck. With winter coming up I really want that functional. Trucks aren't the greatest handling beasts in snow or slush and having all 4 tires under power can only help. As it stands though, this little truck impresses the shit out of me at least once a week. When I brought the Tahoe home the little V6 in her just purred away all the way to the drop sight. This engine has over 200 thousand miles on her and she still runs like a champ.

I only spent $500 for the original truck. The Tahoe was Free for the taking and other than my own time in the work I probably have only dropped $200 in parts since March. I am getting about 22MPG average. Why would I want to drop this truck for a new car with outrageous insurance premiums and about the same performance factor. I am recycling at its most root core and the Liberals that would whine about a hulk of a truck can kiss my country butt on this note. I like my truck.

On the Family side, the Granbehbie is learning to sing. LOL Loudly, off key, and unintelligibly, but she is really getting into it. She hasn't mastered the walk thing yet but she is getting there.
That was the good news, Bad news is my brother-in-law has new tumors in his femur now. They took him off the harder Chemo this week and are trying a lighter chemo more frequently. They are also trying Localized radiation for the newer tumors. All of this was discovered on Tuesday so time will tell how all of this pans out. If you are so inclined please put in a prayer for him and my Sister.
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Range report. (stupid Diogenes)

Well when I came too this morning it was not to a coffee maker or an alarm clock. It was to the crack of thunder. Lovely. NO range trip for now.

Well of course I checked email and read my daily's and surfed the job sites and Craigslist. That took about an hour or so and still RAIN Grrr.

Back to bed. (the only advantage to being unemployed.)

Awoke a couple of hours later to


CLEAR SKIES WOOT!

On to the range.

Cold range not a person in sight on any of them. Range master is taking a nap in the office. DOUBLE WOOT!

Set up my targets and fire off 20 of the wolf black box to warm up the barrel and get her a little fouled. I have found that this rifle likes to be dirty and won't shoot for squat without carbon in the barrel.
First 20 are kinda scattered about but all about 6 inches above center. I expected that and I am trying to get the POI 3.5" above POA at 100m. Thats my Zero for 250m
Ok. Now its time to see if things tighten up.
10 rounds with the Czech ammo.

WTF! 8" target and only 3 on paper and nothing showing a problem (like breathing or trigger jerk.) Now is when I realize that I was stupid. I only brought 10 rounds of each and nothing more. Now I have to move on no matter what.

10 rounds Hungarian.

better. But now everything is to the Right of center and sitting about a 6" pattern.
Grr. Make no changes and move on.

10 rounds of Wolf.
WTF! now I am back on center and high. at least that much is being consistent.

10 rounds Winchester SP

first three rounds. Look down range and don't see anything on the target.

Luckily I am still the only one on the range so I just put a clip in the carrier and walk down to see what the heck is going on.

The target is centered on a 2'X 3' backboard. The three rounds I shot are right on the upper edge of the board and within 1/4" of each other. That's 16" high on center. Seeing the placement I know that this is not me but a setting somewhere on the rifle. Just for giggles I return and shoot dead center bottom of Board. Three rounds.

Dead center of target.

I start to look over the rifle to make sure that nothing is loose or came out of adjustment. Nothing out of whack. Since I mainly shoot the cheap stuff I leave the settings alone and fire off the last 4 rounds.(still kicking myself over that one) By this time there are a couple of guys unloading gear and setting up so I just pull my targets.

I didn't take pics this time since I not only failed to take spare ammo to recheck myself; I also forgot the camera. The targets tear to much removing them from the back board so no pics there either.

Looking on the net it seems that there is a difference of only 2 grains in bullet weight between the milsurp stuff and the Winchester 122v124 but there is also a difference of 2 grains in powder. The Winchester is most definitely hotter. AND newer. the milsurp stuff I have is about 30 years old. It still shoots but it definitely has lost some 'ummph'

After seeing the difference that newer ammo makes to the equation I am seriously considering reloading in the future. Even though I had to give it some Tennessee windage to get on center with the new ammo the pattern was amazing. 7 rounds in the red center and not touching the edges. If I had more of it I would have been able to shoot the center out of that target. Sadly this is not a good time to be considering reloading as a hobby since it has become so much harder to find the components. While I was packing up one of the guys there asked if I had seen any large rifle primers in the stores.

The other aspect of that is I would rather reload something with a more standard case. Like .30-06 or .308 the 7.62X39 case is a bear for primers and bullets.(.310) I do like the way it shoots but I think if I am going to reload I want something that has a little more Range to it.

NOTE: Having seen what the New ammo can do I am perfectly happy with this rifle for hunting. Especially in the midwest were I Highly doubt that I will be making 100+yard shots. Maybe out west there would be a need to upgrade but not here.

April 15th TEA Party.

Well I managed to get another tax of a sort while at the Tea Party in Downtown Cincy. How about $35 parking ticket. Go Figure. Missed the meter by 5 minutes and that's what I get.

Enough about me though. This is a movement to say the least. 550 events in the 50 states. Who knows how many people involved.

Here are some picks from the Cincy party.


This is Captain. He was trying to make friends with another dog the size of a pony. lol.


and this was my favorite sign out there after this one below.


So the Local Government couldn't seem to find a way to stop this without raising a bigger fuss but they did something else to 'limit' the size of the event. If you have ever been to Fountain Square you know the size of the place. The City put out temporary flower beds that took up about 70% of the square. Here are some pics of that mess.


To keep things low key though they did shut down one block of Vine St do the crowd could form up there.

I have been involved with several Protests here in Cincinnati and I have to say that Midwestern weather REALLY blows. Every-time I am out there its Frigging COLD! Or raining. Funny thing was it was in the low 60's yesterday and today is in the High 30's. Good event though. Only a couple of counter protesters around and the local news channels were out this time.

I would like to say that these events give me hope for the country's future. They don't. I am a die hard Cynic. I see these people getting angry at the way the Government is treating them yet I think if the tyranny grows further these same people will (a majority of them anyway) would just fold up and surrender.

With morbid anticipation I await the future. Its kind of like watching an accident unfold before you and not being able to do anything to stop it.
I am doing what I can while I can. Later we will see what actions will be necessary.