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Gun Thread: 12 Days to TXMoMe Edition!

Punkin' Carving the Gun Thread Way

Howdy, Y'all! Welcome to the wondrously fabulous Gun Thread! As always, I want to thank all of our regulars for being here week in and week out, and also offer a bigly Gun Thread welcome to any newcomers who may be joining us tonight. Howdy and thank you for stopping by! I hope you find our wacky conversation on the subject of guns 'n shooting both enjoyable and informative. You are always welcome to lurk in the shadows of shame, but I'd like to invite you to jump into the conversation, say howdy, and tell us what kind of shooting you like to do!

Holy Shitballs! How in the ever-loving Hell did it get to be 12 days before the Texas MoMe? Twelve days, people! Twelve Days! On Friday I hopped into the WeaselMobile - Ford Edition and scooted down to the farm to grab some stuff for the MoMe. I managed to come back with approximately half of the stuff I made mental notes to get, too! I cannot express how much I am looking forward to seeing you all, and saying mean things about the people who aren't attending this year. First "shit-talking" scheduled for Thursday at 6pm!

Public Service Announcement
Gun Thread ON-Limits: Guns 'n shooting 'n MoMe'n.
Gun Thread OFF-Limits: Current events in the Middle East.
For the next three hours we're taking a break. 'Kay?

With that, step into the dojo and let's get to the gun stuff below, shall we?

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I Have Been Trying to Tell You!
Well, well, well. Will you just take a lookie here. Seems like somebody else has started teaching WeaselDoctrine when it comes to practicing with a purpose! For some time, about five years to be exact, I have been stressing the importance of having a plan when you go to the range. It doesn't have to be some big elaborate complicated thing, but rather something as simple as practicing whatever element of shooting; stance, grip, sight alignment and trigger pull, gave you the most trouble the last time you were at the range as recorded in the range notes you took.

Let's see what the She Equips Herself Gal has to say.

If you aren't going to listen to me, then at least listen to SEH Gal!

This isn't rocket surgery, people. Anytime you are trying to master a complex task, practice and repetition are key. Why make it any more difficult than it needs to be? Why not position yourself for success by building on your previous practice sessions? Why not take the four elements mentioned above, stance, grip, sight alignment and trigger pull and focus on them as individual components of a process before bringing the whole mess together?

Every single time I pick up a weapon, I am running those four elements through my mind. Stance. Grip. Sight alignment. Trigger pull. In the tens of thousands of rounds I have fired, my worst performance has always been due to a failure to focus on these fundamentals. I am not making that up. If I notice one element slipping during a range session, that element becomes my focus.

Show of hands - who out there goes to the range with no training objective at all? I am almost certain no one intentionally goes to the range wanting to be as mediocre as possible, right? I mean, who thinks "I am going to shoot and don't much care how I perform" to themselves as they open a box of expensive ammo? I'm pretty sure nobody does that, right? We all want to be successful and achieve our goals, right? I have always been positively mystified by those who shoot without any plan whatsoever then wonder why they aren't improving.

So, try this if for no other reason than to shut me up. For your next range session, concentrate and focus on the four fundamentals - stance, grip, sight alignment and trigger pull. Improvise drills which practice each one individually and focus on it during a string of shots. Think of it like sets and repetitions during weightlifting if that helps. Take notes during each range session and review them before your next range session. DO NOT simply setup and start pulling the trigger then wonder why you aren't accurate or consistent. Take whatever caused you grief the last time and work on that first the next time.

Please?

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Smith & Wesson Model 19-5
Here's our pal Hickok45 with a S&W Model 19 in .357 Magnum.

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Holy Crap!
Here's our pal Jerry Miculek showing how it's done.

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Fun with Ballistics
Fun!

More Fun!!

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I Hate When This Happens!

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Texas MoMe Madness!

I'd like to remind everyone of the upcoming MoMe in Texas on October 20-21. If you're in either the northern or southern hemisphere of the planet of the earth, contact Ben Had for details. The dates and email links for MoMes are always helpfully included on the main page, left sidebar, so you really have no excuse!

There is an entire shooting program for both handguns and rifles over two days, world class food and drink, and the even world classier company of your fellow Morons! Seriously, people. I have said this probably a hundred times now. These gatherings are a really good time, and I know of no one who regrets having attended one. No kidding. Would your ol' pal Weasel lie to you? MoMe veterans will attest to the funness. Don't be a dork, do yourself a favor and get yo' big ass to Texas! If you're a TXMoMe veteran, please encourage the scairdy-cats to join in the fun!

TXMoMe Shooting Festivities

This seems like a good time to talk a little bit about the upcoming shooting program at the TXMoMe, or the Conservative's Burning Man, as it's popularly known. What started years ago as an informal plinking session lasting a couple of hours has matured into a full program of shooting activities over two days. I have to thank Ben Had, Cow Horse Queen and RancherBob for allowing the shooting to comprise such a significant portion of the TXMoMe.

For a while I have been conducting a Rifle Clinic on Friday morning followed by range time Friday afternoon and then again well into Saturday. We have also been steadily refining the handgun portion of the program to now include an IDPA-esque move-and-shoot pistol course designed and run by Nurse R. There is also the usual static pistol range for those who prefer that style of shooting and a separate setup for gun-curious beginners desiring one-on-one supervision and instruction. Lastly and by popular demand, we're hoping to add a gun cleaning and maintenance clinic both days which will run concurrently with the live-fire programs.

Anyhoo, here's a very rough outline of the schedule of events. Times are tentative and subject to modification/change. I'll move this down to the TXMoMe section below in the coming weeks and update as necessary.

Friday, 10/20
Rifle Program
8am - 10am: Rifle Clinic (carport)
10am - 11am: Combined Range and Safety Briefing - Mandatory for Friday Arrivals! (carport)
11:30am - 1pm: Rifle Clinic, Intro to Wind Estimation (rifle range)
1pm - 4pm: Live fire (rifle range - targets to 1,000 yds)

Handgun Program
10am - 11am: Combined Range and Safety Briefing - Mandatory for Friday Arrivals! (carport)
11:00am - 12:30pm: Handgun Clinic (carport)
1pm - 2:30pm: Static live fire (pistol range)
1pm - 3pm: A clean gun is a happy gun (carport)
2:30 - 4pm: Briefing and Move & Shoot live fire (pistol range)

Saturday, 10/21
Rifle Program
9am - 10am: Combined Range and Safety Briefing - Mandatory for Saturday arrivals! (carport)
9am - 1pm: Live fire (rifle range)

Handgun Program
9am - 10am: Range and Safety Briefing - Mandatory for Saturday arrivals! (carport)
10am - Noon: A clean gun is a happy gun (carport)
9am - 1pm: Live fire (pistol range)

Again, these times are approximate and may change as weather conditions and participation warrant.

You will note there are combined rifle and handgun range safety briefings both days and attendance at one is mandatory. We take your safety seriously and ask everyone who plans to shoot to please also plan on attending this important briefing. All shooters are asked to check in with an RSO (sporting an Orange Cap of Dorkiness for easy identification) upon your arrival at either of the ranges who will answer questions and direct you to an open firing position. The RSOs wield unspeakable power so it is in your best interest to be nice to them.

If you are a novice shooter, or even have never been to the range before and think guns are icky, you are welcome to shoot! Just see an RSO and they will set you up with an experienced shooter to help you. If you miss the mandatory range safety briefing which is mandatory and must be attended, all is not lost. See an RSO to plead your case, be harangued and chastised, and then spend some punishment time on the Disciplinary Range of Shame. In the interests of time, please make it to the scheduled range briefings. Thanks.

Finally, please plan on stopping somewhere along your way to Texas and picking up some ammunition if you plan to shoot and aren't bringing your own weapons. Everyone is very generous with sharing, but please don't rely on the generosity of others to provide everything for you. You can really help out by grabbing a box of 9mm or 5.56mm or whatever you want to shoot. I will bring one of my practice rifles and if you would like to engage our new 1,000 yd target, pick up a box of 175gr. Federal Gold Medal Match in .308 Winchester ammunition.

Call for Volunteers
Help! As I mentioned above, the shooting program in Texas continues to grow, and we wouldn't be able to do it without a lot of help. If you're interested in lending a hand in some capacity, please drop me a note at gunthread at protonmail dot com indicating your date and time of arrival, and we'll be in touch. Thank You!

RSOs from prior years: Expect another email from me soon.

If you are attending the TXMoMe this year, and all the cool kids are, please keep an eye on this section for important information and updates in the coming weeks! I also want to reiterate the TXMoMe is not a gun thing with some socializing attached, but rather is a social thing with some shooting attached. If you aren't a shooter, I guarantee you will not feel out of place and will have a great time. No fooling!

Are all y'all getting excited? Weasel are!!

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Musical Interlude
Here is Led Zeppelin with Heartbreaker live at RAH.

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Cigar of the Week

This week we take a look at one of Weasel's favorites, the Drew Estate Factory Smokes. It took me a while to try these, and they have quickly made their way to the top of the daily smoke humidor. A full-bodied Nicaraguan Maduro at around $1.50 each. That's right, a decent, well-constructed cigar for well under $2 a pop. At that price point, you can afford to smoke two at a time!

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Here are some different online cigar vendors. You will find they not only carry different brands and different lines from those brands, but also varying selections of vitolas (sizes/shapes) of given lines. It's good to have options, especially if you're looking for a specific cigar.

Cigarsinternational.com
Cigarpage.com
Famous-smoke.com
Cigarsdaily.com
Neptunecigar.com
Smallbatchcigar.com
Bobalu Cigar Company
Cigarbid.com

A note about sources. The brick & mortar/online divide exists with cigars, as with guns, and most consumer products, with respect to price. As with guns - since both are "persecuted industries", basically - I make a conscious effort to source at least some of my cigars from my local store(s). It's a small thing, but the brick & mortar segment for both guns and tobacco are precious, and worth supporting where you can. And if you're lucky enough to have a good cigar store/lounge available, they're often a good social event with many dangerous people of the sort who own scary gunz, or read smart military blogs like this one. -rhomboid

Anyone have others to include? Perhaps a small local roller who makes a cigar you like? Send me your recommendation and a link to the site!

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Ammo Link-O-Rama
I'm really very seriously not kidding around anymore. Buy Ammo
AmmoSeek - online ammo search tool
GunBot - online ammo search tool
SG Ammo
Palmetto State Armory
Georgia Arms
AmmoMan
Target Sports USA
Bud's Gun Shop
American Elite Ammo NEW!

***Mail Bag***

This week's mailbag entry is from our pal Fungus Boy. Remind anyone of their gunsmithing efforts?!

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Please note the new and improved protonmail account gunthread at protonmail dot com. An informal Gun Thread archive can be found HERE. Future expansion plans are in the works for the site Weasel Gun Thread. If you have a question you would like to ask Gun Thread Staff offline, just send us a note and we'll do our best to answer. If you care to share the story of your favorite firearm, send a picture with your nic and tell us what you sadly lost in the tragic canoe accident. If you would like to remain completely anonymous, just say so. Lurkers are always welcome!

That's it for this week - have you been to the range?