tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25711591621490340112024-03-05T01:51:16.518-06:00Outbreak's Crap That No One Wants to ReadOutbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-8504515483002185002011-02-24T02:05:00.003-06:002011-02-24T02:27:55.592-06:00The Damn Glock ThingSo, anyone who knows me, or has read my posts on WeTheArmed.com, knows I don't like Glock pistols.<br /><br />There's a laundry list of things I don't like about Glocks. The grip angle is a problem for many people. The trigger safety bugs me, along with a disassembly procedure that requires dry-firing on a closed chamber. That has resulted in many negligent discharges and even deaths. Plus, Glocks are just ugly.<br /><br />Of course, they are extremely popular guns. They're as simple as they come- point and shoot. There's no manual safety and they're reliable to a fault. They're inexpensive. Their popularity has created a huge and mostly inexpensive aftermarket for magazines, accessories, and upgrades. I even recommend Glocks as an option for new shooters, even though I'm not a fan. They're good guns for a lot of people.<br /><br />Just not me.<br /><br />A while back, my friend, Jason, who is a fellow Sig pistol lover, Glock hater, and who has an often strange "gun idea of the day," mentioned he was looking at Glocks for a pocket-carry gun. This opened my mind to Glocks for a few days. His "idea of the day" passed within 24 hours, and my thoughts about them passed shortly thereafter.<br /><br />Then one night, I had a dream; a nightmare really.<br /><br />I usually don't remember much about my dreams other than the general gist, but rarely details. I remembered a scary amount of this one.<br /><br />I walked into Abilene Indoor Gun Range, plunked down an unknown amount of money, and they handed me a Glock. Don't remember choosing or thinking. I just gave them money and took it home. I remember what the empty magwell and empty chamber looked like when I cleared it. Then I started dry firing. I remember pulling the slide back just far enough to reset, which isn't far on a Glock. I just dry fired for a while. I don't remember the trigger biting me, like that stupid trigger safety always does on me. I don't remember the normal discomfort I usually feel with the grip. The next thing I remember is thinking it was a G23, then looking at the barrel and finding it was marked "9X19mm" and realizing it was a G19.<br /><br />And then I woke up, in a sweat. This was a bad dream for me.<br /><br />I haven't been able to shake it. I think if I could buy handguns in Arizona I would've gone and bought one by now, but luckily I have another month plus to try and shake it.<br /><br />I'm thinking I might get one even when I get back to Texas. Reason is a couple things. One, I should be proficient with any gun I pick up. Glocks are different from real guns in the grip angle, which few other designs share. That's one of the things keeping me from one. But they're so damn common, I should be able to shoot one. The other reason is that in order to badmouth...I mean, intelligently critique a weapon, you need to know it, know it's strengths, shortcomings, etc.<br /><br />To evaluate it, I'm not going to risk my life by carrying it. I just have so much muscle memory in DA/SA guns, and I carry such weapons on and off duty, I'm not willing to risk that. But I plan to target shoot with it. I'm even going to shoot it in IPSC matches, once I get through the Double Tap match. I'm practiced enough with my Sigs and Beretta, and I've paid too much to enter that match that I'm not going to change my gun two months out. But after that, I'm going to wring it out in action pistol competition.<br /><br />I'm hoping I can get one, shoot the crap out of it and still hate it for one reason or another. If it has negative impacts on my real gun shooting, due to grip angle or trigger or whatever, that will be enough reason for me. I'm invested enough in my DA/SA's that I carry on and off duty, and shoot well, if a Glock takes away from that, I'll sell it in a heartbeat.<br /><br />I just have to know.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-59628224884943329772011-02-24T01:39:00.003-06:002011-02-24T01:56:58.809-06:00Cav Arms Build CompleteI know it's been a while, but my plastic AR-15 is complete, and it looks good!<br /><br />As you can read from earlier posts, I started with an OD Green Cavalry Arms lower receiver. I've documented the lower build, which was not without it's hardships.<br /><br />Building the upper receiver had a whole new list of difficulties. I started by ordering a DPMS light profile 20" barrel. A deployment and a total of 7 months later, it was still backordered. I canceled the order with DPMS and ordered a similar Bushmaster barrel, which arrived in less than a month. It is a standard 20" barrel with a fixed A2 front sight post/gas block. It came with a rifle-length gas tube and black rifle length handguards. Basically, it was ready to install.<br /><br />I also ordered an A2 upper receiver. It arrived long before the barrel, and I just stashed it away and forgot about it. Turns out it was an A1 upper(I checked the invoice, and it did indeed list an A2 upper. They sent the wrong one), and I had an A2 rear sight kit. All of it was ordered from Brownells. I kept the A1 upper, either to sell or for a future build, and ordered an A2 upper.<br /><br />When the A2 upper arrived, installation of the rear sight kit wasn't hard, and didn't require all the special tools that some websites advocate. I did it with a punch set and a screw driver.<br /><br />Installing the barrel wasn't hard, either. I borrowed a can of lithium grease from Josh at Abilene Indoor Gun Range, where I do most of my gun related business. Great guys. I sprayed the receiver threads with grease, installed the barrel and torqued the barrel nut to spec with a cheap torque wrench. I left the black handguards in the closet and installed a set of OD Green Cavalry Arms rifle length handguards to give it that two-tone look.<br /><br />With the upper complete, I had to install the bolt carrier group, which I had ordered months before. Standard, cheap BCG. It went in just fine, but somewhere along the line I had forgotten to get a charging handle. I cannibalized it from my M4gery (which is now known as Tactibeast- that's another post) to test the rifle.<br /><br />First time I took the gun out was on a trip with my sister and her boyfriend. I shot it first to make sure it functioned safely, but then both of them shot it and enjoyed it, even without a forward assist. That's another part I forgot to order. Along with the flash hider, but that is going to be permanently cannibalized from the Tactibeast.<br /><br />At the end of the day, here's a bad picture of the rifle.<br /><a href="http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/1546/011pq.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/1546/011pq.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-23225711153142728642011-02-24T01:25:00.002-06:002011-02-24T01:29:34.796-06:00Update TimeI haven't updated this in a while. I've been giving false hope to those who click on the signature line link I have on WeTheArmed.com. I say this is the place where I post all the crap no one wants to read. I have a ton of crap no one wants to read that I haven't posted here.<br /><br />I completed the CavArms build, and I'll post updates to that. I've picked up my Silencerco .22Sparrow suppressor, which I haven't posted about. I've also submitted a Form 1 for a Short Barreled Rifle chambered in .300AAC Blackout, the build of which will become it's own set of posts.<br /><br />I've got some other crap for no one to read, and I'm actually going to change the name of the blog to reflect that. Look for more in the future.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-55385709153938934482010-05-23T03:37:00.003-05:002010-05-23T03:40:26.309-05:00Finished Cavalry Arms LowerI finally finished the CavArms Lower, with a little 5/64" pin needed to hold the buffer retainer down. Since the Cav Arms Lower Receiver doesn't have a buffer tube, it needs a little pin to hold the buffer retainer down in it's hole. I learned this the hard way, but I think I made a last minute save and did it the right way.<br /><br />Of course, I had to buy 36 of the pins from Brownell's, so I have plenty of spares.<br /><br />I've function tested it, but I haven't shot it yet.<br /><br />As of right now, I have everything to build it except the lightweight barrel from DPMS, which is still backordered. Can't do much without that.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-39955900096418486242010-04-18T20:39:00.002-05:002010-04-18T20:59:47.642-05:00Complete LowerI got a package from Midway on Friday. It had a bunch of reloading stuff, along with a DPMS Lower Parts Kit, a carbine buffer and buffer spring.<br /><br />Installing the LPK was interesting. The Cav-15 Lower Receiver is very tight in all tolerances. Every part fits very tightly. I lubed everything with Slipstream Lube as I installed it, and the trigger group wasn't too hard.<br /><br />Some of the parts weren't used, or installed differently because it's a CAV-15 lower. The Selector detent and spring have to go in from the top, instead of with the pistol grip. That part was tough, since I had to install the spring and detent, hold them down with a punch, and try to get the selector in there. This is where that extra tight tolerance became troublesome. I got it almost lined up, then tapped it with a nylon mallet to get it in. It worked, but I smashed my thumb in the process. Pretty nasty.<br /><br />I also discovered that you need a pin, which isn't included in either the LPK or with the Lower, to hold the buffer retaining pin in its hole, because there's no buffer tube to do that. I'll have to get one of those next week, since I'm on vacation this week.<br /><br />The upper fits very tightly in the lower as well. I almost have everything I need to finish the upper, except the barrel. I just found out my barrel is backordered a month or two from DPMS, so that could seriously delay the build. Don't know what I'm going to do about that.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-64674391013019494412010-04-12T19:42:00.003-05:002010-04-12T19:46:59.124-05:00New PartsJust got the stripped upper receiver. That takes the list to Upper, Lower, Bolt Carrier Group, gas tube, and barrel nut.<br /><br />Next part expected to arrive is the DPMS Light Contour Barrel with A2 Gas Block. 20" long, chambered in 5.56mm with a 1:9 twist. That should be getting here any day now.<br /><br />After payday, I'll click "checkout" on the upper and lower parts kits plus a few tools for assembly.<br /><br />After that, all I should need are the handguards. And some spray paint.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-66798782028898705892010-04-02T00:30:00.003-05:002010-04-02T00:39:34.125-05:00I love DiscountsI mentioned how DSG gave me a "significant" discount on the Cav Arms lower receiver. To get their military discount, I sent them a copy of my mil ID, and they "upgraded" my account so now whenever I log into their site, it shows the normal price, the discounted price, and the savings. The discount isn't a flat rate, but it's different on every item. Not every item is discounted, but the majority are.<br /><br />Then I placed an order with Brownell's, and as I was checking out it asked if I wanted to register for an account. I figured why not, since I am building a rifle from all parts, I know I'll be buying more from them. There was a little check-box at the end asking if I was active duty military or law enforcement. I checked "yes." Lo and behold, they do the same thing as DSG. Again, not every item is discounted, and the discounts are all different, but some are significant. I saved about 15% on my last order. Good enough.<br /><br />So far, I haven't found a discount on Midway, but I'll still keep checking their prices.<br /><br />Of course, there are tons of other sites and companies that sell gun parts out there, and I shop as many as I can for the product I want for the best price. but Brownell's and DSG are getting a lot of my business because of their discount programs.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-73256595947336446902010-03-30T13:49:00.002-05:002010-03-30T13:54:34.211-05:00Just picked up the lower<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2916/002hhj.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="http://img269.imageshack.us/img269/2916/002hhj.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />My dealer asked to look at it since he had never seen one in person, and found this.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/2625/004rhj.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer; width: 640px; height: 480px;" src="http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/2625/004rhj.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br />IT'S RECYCLABLE! Not only is it OD green, but it's green, too!Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-66892712893017663222010-03-29T13:54:00.002-05:002010-03-29T13:57:33.123-05:00Cav Arms BuildSo I decided I'm going to build this rifle from scratch. It'll cost me a bit more, both in individual parts cost, and in tools I'll need, but I think I'm up to it technically, and I want to. The flip side to that is I can buy the parts separately, and spread the cost out over a couple paychecks. In fact, I'll be forced to because a lot of the parts I want are backordered.<br /><br />The Cav Lower is in at the local gun pusher, so I'll pick it up tomorrow. Pics will be posted.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-44817930595094814012010-03-28T23:10:00.004-05:002010-03-29T13:58:03.478-05:00Patient ZeroApparently my purchase of the Cav Arms Lower has inspired many other <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.wethearmed.com">WTA</a> members to do the same. Thernlund bought three on his own!<br /><br />At this rate, DSG Arms will run out quick, so if you want one, they have them, for now.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-90210897360781506552010-03-28T22:29:00.003-05:002010-03-29T13:59:13.488-05:00New AR BuildSo, as many know, Cavalry Arms recently surrendered their FFL and ceased production of their one-piece plastic lower receivers. I'm not going any deeper into that story here.<br /><br />The whole fiasco made me want one of their lowers.<br /><br />I found DSG Arms had them for $125, less the military discount, which is significant. It didn't take a lot of thought to order one in Olive Drab. I didn't even know what I was going to do with it. At the time, I was perfectly content just tossing it in the safe and leaving it till I got an idea.<br /><br />It didn't take long to come up with an idea.<br /><br />It's getting a 20" A-2 upper receiver, and I'll be painting the full-length handguards to match the lower, since I can't find A-2 handguards in OD green. It'll have a standard gas-block front sight, and carry handle rear. Right now, it looks like the upper will have a light-contour barrel, keeping the whole build as light as possible. The upper I'm looking at comes with a bolt and carrier, but I'll be replacing them with my CMMG .22LR Conversion Kit most of the time. This rifle is going to be all but a dedicated .22. I can swap the bolt carrier groups at any time and shoot 5.56 out of it again. The Silencerco .22Sparrow suppressor will be on this rifle whenever it's not on the P-22.<br /><br />As for my existing M4gery, it'll be slowly tansforming into the Tacti-beast. All I know right now is it'll be getting a railed forend, a holographic optic (probably the EOtech XPS2-2), a Knights Armament vertical foregrip (I already have that) and a Daniel Defense offset light mount. Don't know what light is going in it yet, but it'll be LED for sure. Other bits and pieces might make it, too. Magpul's BAD or a Redi-mag might eventually make an appearance. There are just so many cool things to put on an AR, it'll take a while to select everything. This will probably all get done within the next 6 months.<br /><br />I'll try to remember to post updates here.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-54478473435266517282010-03-28T22:18:00.002-05:002010-03-28T22:28:06.350-05:00Walther P-22I almost made this specifically about a couple of different things. Then I realized I have plenty to say about my P-22.<br /><br />In general, I like it. First reason is, it's a .22. Second is that it looks like a gun, not a laser blaster or a toy like so many other .22LR Pistols.<br /><br />When I first got it, it would not feed cheap bulk ammo. I was feeding it only CCI Green Label for a long time. Recently, I just forgot about it's ammo sensitivity and loaded it up with Winchester 333rd bulk pack ammo. No problems at all. I guess it was just a break-in period.<br /><br />When I got my first Slipstream kit, the P-22 was one of the first guns I treated, and it definitely smoothed out the slide. This could also be why it's cycling cheap ammo now.<br /><br />Today, I decided I would not be dealing with the magazine safety anymore. I didn't like it to begin with, but it seemed like too technical a job for me to remove until today. I stripped it down using some detailed instructions I found online, and removing the little spring on the magazine safety was very easy. While I had the whole action opened up, I soaked it in Slipstream. I put it back together, lathered up the friction surfaces with more Slipstream, put the slide back on and function tested it. Magazine safety doesn't work anymore (SUCCESS!) and all the gravelly feel in that trigger is gone. It's still heavy but it is smoooooth.<br /><br />Now I just gotta wait for the can!Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-54356581191575183852010-03-28T22:10:00.002-05:002010-03-28T22:18:35.514-05:00I'm BackI've taken some time off, evidently since last August. Lately, the guys at WeTheArmed.com are probably growing tired of my posts documenting every single little thing I put <a href="http://www.crusaderweaponry.com/main.php?view=slipstream">Slipstream</a> on and how awesome it is. Jason is probably getting tired of every little thought I have about the new AR and the can, and every little thing I put Slipstream on and how awesome it is.<br /><br />Then I remembered the old blog. Nobody reads this anyway, so no one will get tired of my endless excitement about Slipstream, or the stream-of-consciousness I have when it comes to playing with my guns. Perfect place to post all that stuff.<br /><br />So, if you want to read about my experiences with Slipstream up until now, check out Crusader Weaponry's section on WeTheArmed.com. I'll post a little bit about the new Cavalry Arms lower receiver build, and the subsequent build up of my existing AR-15 into Tacti-Beast.<br /><br />To my lack of readers out there, Enjoy!Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-27664228704491194442009-08-01T17:18:00.003-05:002009-08-01T23:28:58.909-05:00Monster Hunter International; first ImpressionsThe new release of Larry Correia's first book, <span style="font-style: italic;">Monster Hunter International</span>, just hit store shelves, and I picked up my copy for about $8. The first edition's go for hundreds of dollars, so I was fine buying the second edition. Plus, something that popular must be really good, right?<br /><br />IT IS! All the hype was true. I'm 130pages into it, and even though I've barely made a dent, it's got me hooked. The basic story line is all the creatures from your nightmares and horror movies are real, and someone needs to kill them. MHI is a family owned business that's been killing monsters for a hundred or so years, and they're good at their jobs.<br /><br />Well, off to finish the book. Shouldn't take more than a week at this rate.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-63619538373412765942009-04-07T18:23:00.002-05:002009-04-07T20:05:23.147-05:00Things I forgot I hadI just received the stuff that has been in storage since June, 2007. Needless to say, there are many things I forgot I had. Some of the less remarkable things include a truly ridiculous amount of gladware, various glasses and kitchen implements, and a desk chair.<br /><br />Now for the weird stuff:<br />1. A large sheet of plywood, formerly used as a back stop for the dart board.<br />2. A food dehydrator.<br />3. Sugar bowl; with sugar in it. Still good.<br />4. Glass vinegar caraffe. Not a drop spilled.<br />5. A coffee mug my dad got from work...Labeled 1989.<br />6. Coozies galore.<br />7. Partial bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil.<br />And finally,<br />8. Package of Roasted Garlic Idahoan instant mashed potatoes.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-17999862714159745962009-03-06T10:33:00.001-06:002009-03-06T10:36:04.062-06:00Almost broke my coffee tableI had the morning off today, so I slept in. I get out of bed, start a pot of coffee brewing, turn on Fox News, and am greeted by Obama, telling me how good the spendulus package is. [sigh] This day isn't starting well.<br /><br />He was speaking at a police academy graduation in Columbus, OH. [cue Outbreak's awesome Obama voice]"For those who still doubt the wisdom of this bill we just passed, I want you to talk to these men and women who are about to be protecting the people of Columbus"<br /><br /><span style="font-size: 20pt; line-height: 1.3em;"><b>NO!</b></span> [this is where I almost broke the coffee table, because I hit it so hard.]<br /><br />I'm tired of being told to talk to people who are benefiting from these silly packages, and that that will change my mind. It won't. The packages don't work, haven't worked and won't work.<br /><br />Tell ya what, Mr. President. I have some people I want YOU to go talk to. How bout you come talk to me. I worked hard in school, got scholarships to go to a college my parents couldn't afford to send me to, and got a job that pays me a comfortable living salary, and gives me health care. I save some money each month, instead of spending it all.<br /><br />Or a couple friends back home, who are married, both are paramedics, and hardly see each other because they work opposite shifts so someone can be home with their baby. They don't need government aid. Hell, they just bought a house! They chose a small townhouse that they can afford. Not flashy, but its adequate.<br /><br />Why aren't you talking to those people, Mr. President? [rhetorical question, folks]Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-39811236920836103772009-02-19T18:19:00.002-06:002009-02-19T18:59:25.196-06:00I hate the technology age.Sounds odd from someone as young as I, but I do. I don't hate the technology itself. Its quite convenient stuff. My phone allows me to communicate everywhere I go. My iPod holds more music than I'll ever listen to. My GPS tells me where to drive. Wonderful stuff, this technology.<br /><br />What I hate is keeping up with it. I figure it out about six months late, after I've bought something that I thought would fulfill my needs. Not saying any of those items don't do what I need, but I develop a desire for the newer thing that everyone else has. Call it keeping up with the Joneses, but it seems to be a trend for me.<br /><br />My GPS is great. No complaints.<br /><br />My cell phone is a 7-month old flip-phone. Works great. When it was time for me to pick a new phone, I thought I didn't need a Blackberry, or an iPhone. I still don't. But they sure are nice, and I realize now I should have picked one up when I had the chance.<br /><br />My iPod Nano is great. Problem comes with using it. It comes with the headphones and the charging/interface cable. So I can use it while I work out. Awesome. For driving, you need a $20 accessory that plugs into the headset jack and broadcasts it on FM radio for you car radio to pick up. Not the highest quality sound, and it doesn't charge it. For that, its another $30. If you want quality sound, you need to plug it directly into the head unit. That's also $50, but it'll take a week to ship.<br /><br />Leading me to my next point.<br /><br />You can't buy anything in the store anymore. Everything has to be ordered online. If a store has it listed "in stock" on their website, you don't know if its at the store, or if they have it in a warehouse somewhere and its just "in stock" online. Quite irritating when you need something NOW.<br /><br />So, yeah, after deciding today (2 days before I drive halfway across the country) that I cannot survive 9 hours in the truck on 3 CD's and a slew of country stations, I needed a way to make my iPod talk to my head unit. I hate the idea of the FM transmitters, because of the aforementioned crappy sound quality, so I went to Best Buy for a hardline connection. Aparently, the part required for my stereo isn't just a simple wire, its a whole "interface" and they don't stock it. 5 days to order it. Dammit.<br /><br />After running around town for an hour or so, I finally found the $50 FM transmitter that would charge the damn iPod as well.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-83580656141554269062009-02-12T17:34:00.002-06:002009-02-12T17:59:45.893-06:00The Next ChapterWell, its almost that time, folks. After what will be almost exactly seven months in Little Rock, its finally time for me to hit the road. Its bitter sweet.<br /><br />I'll be leaving a lot of stuff. Friends, for one. Some military, some civilian, they're all great folks that help each other and have given me more than I can ever repay. I will miss the fine group of people I have met here the most. I'll see some of them again, down the road, or downrange, but others I'll have to come back to The Rock to meet up with again. And I will.<br /><br />I'll be leaving a great apartment building. Its only a year old, parking garage, right downtown, within stumbling distance to my favorite watering holes, and everything else downtown has to offer. The management is great to work with, pro-rating and extending leases for us unpredictable military folks, and working with our odd situations in general. They've been great. But the building is a great little community. A lot of the residents know each other, socialize, and my friends were only a few minutes away, if that far. Great place to live.<br /><br />I'll be leaving some great watering holes with great staffs who know me and always have a cold one waiting for me. The Flying Saucer and Cregeens will be tough to leave. Thanks for the beers, guys.<br /><br />But some things are best left behind. I'll be leaving the Black Jack 20 and SR232, for a few years, at least. I'll be leaving the most worn out airplanes in the fleet, albeit for some that are only slightly less worn out. I'll be leaving AETC (Air Education Training Command), for a while, anyway.<br /><br />I'll be gaining some things, too. A whole new group of friends and colleagues awaits me in Texas. I'll have a reunion with some old friends I haven't seen in a while. I've got a new apartment set up and a home of my own in a few months time. I'll get all my stuff that I last saw in Florida, almost two years ago!<br /><br />I'm sad for all the stuff I'm leaving behind, but I'll replace it all-no replace is the wrong word. I can't replace this place and these people. But I'll find others to fill their slots in their absence, make new friends, find new bars. I'll make the most of it, as we military types do every time we move. It'll be one hell of a ride.<br /><br />So, thanks for the beers, the good times, the french toast, the spare room, and everything else. I'll see you all down the road.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-46178585077597053422009-01-31T02:22:00.002-06:002009-01-31T02:31:41.964-06:00Movie Review: TakenI just went out and saw the movie <span style="font-style: italic;">Taken</span>, starring Liam Neeson. It's about a retired CIA operative whose daughter is kidnapped while visiting Paris. He uses his skills learned from years as a Secret Squirrel to track down the slavery ring that took his daughter and try to get her back. It seems to be an action/drama. There is some genuinely good acting combined with Liam Neeson kicking some serious scumbag ass in numerous, and sometimes creative ways. I wouldn't be surprised if he won some awards for this one and I hope the morons in Hollywood recognize it as a bit more than the typical action-suspense movie with the typical action-suspense actors blowing things up and shooting things. I enjoy both, and Neeson's character does shoot a lot of stuff, but not to the point of cheapening the movie. Any more, and I'll end up spoiling it for those who haven't seen it.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-31294298913570132472009-01-16T20:23:00.004-06:002009-01-16T20:38:33.208-06:00Outbreak's First Book ReviewI've never done anything but a passing verbal recommendation of a novel, so this will be a first. I just finished <span style="font-style: italic;">Pale Horse Coming </span>by Stephen Hunter, and it was excellent. It's told in three parts from the points of view of the two main characters: Sam Vincent and Earl Swagger. It tells the tale of an old prison farm for "coloreds" in Thebes, MS, circa 1950.<br /><br />I'm not going to do a book report, and describe what happens. What I will say is if you can't tolerate a heavy amount of racial slurs, used in context of the time, of course, steer clear of this book. It's not a racist book, quite to the contrary, actually, but it accurately portrays how good ol' boys in Mississippi used to refer to blacks. Also, if you can't stomach some pretty graphic violence in print, again, not the book for you.<br /><br />Now, if you like prison break stories, guns(lots of guns) and one hell of a suspenseful story, you'll enjoy this book.<br />This was my first Stephen Hunter book, but won't likely be the last. Hunter has an interesting writing style that drops enough clues for you to figure out one mystery without actually revealing it till the end, and then whacks you with an interesting turn that you'd never expect just when you're feeling smart.<br /><br />Highly recommended.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-64891827769435057802009-01-16T19:50:00.004-06:002009-01-16T20:11:49.874-06:00Peltor Tactical 6-S ReviewI haven't made much light of my love of guns here yet, but I have a few new toys in the gun inventory, so I thought I'd start reviewing them here, as well as over at <a href="http://www.wethearmed.com/">We The Armed.</a><br /><br />First up is the new hearing protection, the Peltor Tactical 6-5 earmuffs.<br /><br />I took Scott and Paul out to the range today and tried the new muffs out. They're are electronic earmuffs. They have a microphone on each ear cup and a speaker inside, but the mic's won't pick up gunshots, so you have crystal clear hearing except for the gunshots. Pretty cool stuff.<br /><br />Now, I was a bit skeptical of the hearing protection these things would actually provide. We were shooting at an indoor range, where I've always doubled up on yellow foamy ear plugs and ear muffs, because either one on its own still allowed an uncomfortable amount of noise through. I chose to try the Peltor's with no plugs to start out, though I had them in my pocket.<br /><br />The most surprising thing was, I forgot about the plugs after the first shot. The Peltor's worked GREAT. The noise level was comfortable even as the range began to fill up and 4-5 people were shooting at the same time. I could hear the guys' questions very clearly with the electronic system, and everyone other conversation in the room, too. They don't just let you hear like normal, you can hear BETTER.<br /><br />The only downsides I could find were the cheesy headband, though it works fine, so it doesn't need any more over engineering. Also, they're pretty pricey. I've seen them between $50-100. I got mine for $25 second hand, from a friend, but now that I've used them, I can say I would be willing to drop $50 for them if I had to.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-22052004967359010802009-01-02T17:41:00.002-06:002009-01-02T17:50:03.875-06:00Holidays with OutbreakMerry Christmas and Happy New Year! It certainly was for me.<br /><br />Christmas break started with almost a week back in the hometown with the folks and some friends I don't get to see often. I had a great time. We then trekked down to The Rock and celebrated the New Year at my Favorite Olde Pub with some of my best friends and some exquisite beer.<br /><br />When I arrived back at The Rock, I had my very first Evil Black Christmas Present waiting for me from the nice people at Stag Arms.<br /><br /><a href="http://img254.imageshack.us/my.php?image=arforumwv1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://img254.imageshack.us/img254/3328/arforumwv1.th.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I also brought some old heirloom guns back from the hometown and will be refinishing them and hopefully they haven't fired their last rounds yet.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-68817256879764016692008-12-06T17:36:00.002-06:002008-12-06T18:03:04.093-06:00Why I'm Part of the Panic BuyAs most people know, since B.O. got elected to be the next President of the United States, there has been a run on guns. Evil Black Guns mostly. There are many opinions on this. Some think the panic buyers are nuts and resent them for driving prices up. Some believe the panic buyers are right and are doing the same thing. Many are kicking themselves for not buying sooner.<br /> <br /> I bought my Evil Black Rifle just after midnight on 6 November. The price hadn't gone up yet, and I had been saving for it anyway. I wasn't buying because of fears B.O. would ban them. I do fear that, but that alone didn't drive my decision to purchase. I knew that a lot of people would be driven to buy because of the election, and I knew demand would skyrocket, prices would rise, and it wouldn't be government that would keep me from getting my rifle. It would be the market.<br /><br /> And boy am I glad that I bought when I did. The next day, the online retailer that I ordered from called and asked if delays would cause me to cancel my order. "Of course not!" was my reply. She told me that Stag Arms, the manufacturer of most of my rifle, was already backed by about 6,000 rifles, and my order would already take 4-5 weeks. Four weeks later, I still don't have my gun, and Stag's website says their current backorder is <span style="font-weight: bold;">20 weeks long!</span><br /><br /> Black Rifles (often wrongly labeled as "Assault Rifles") can't be found anywhere. Many gun dealers have remarked that their inventory flew off the shelves within a week and they're unable to get more. Black Rifles can't be begged, borrowed, or stolen right now. The ones that are still available are only there because some dealers have started price gouging. Pre-election, a simple AR-15 rifle could be had for $800-$1000, and could be built for less than that (mine will be about $750 once I get it and put it all together). Recently, I've been hearing about them marked up to as much as $2000.<br /><br /> Luckily, there are plenty of dealers out there who aren't marking up their EBR's, or any other merchandise, any more than their costs require. The manufacturers haven't been raising their prices either. They don't need to. They have backorders for the next six months. They're doing just fine.<br /><br /> Hopefully, the boom in gun sales will send a message to the congress-weasels and local legis-critters that Americans like our guns, and when our rights are threatened, we don't roll over. We stock up.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-16460269922216638672008-12-06T16:04:00.002-06:002008-12-06T16:08:50.408-06:00Farewell, KimMy favorite daily blogger, Kim DuToit, has retired. His daily writings included politics, guns, cars, women, and a host of other topics. He wrote about everything, and he wrote it beautifully. His wife, Connie, also retired, and though I didn't read her material very often, it was always very thoughtful and well written. (It is all still available to read, but they're no longer publishing new material. You can read it at www.theothersideofkim.com.) So, farewell in your retirement, Kim and Connie. You've earned it and will be missed.Outbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2571159162149034011.post-66838696178387156222008-11-14T11:55:00.001-06:002008-11-14T11:56:26.222-06:00Quote of the DayFrom Eric:<br />"Yes, they even have clearing barrels in front of the chapel... Because even God hates negligent discharges."<br /><br />AmenOutbreakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10013369459479564508noreply@blogger.com0