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Gun Thread: First March 2024 Edition!

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 March? This is madness!

Q:Weasel, are you a college basketball fan?
A: No.

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

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So wassup, all y'all? With each passing day winter recedes in the rear-view mirror and spring approaches. In addition to not being a college basketball fan, or sports ball fan of any variety really, I also especially do not like winter. I suppose winter itself is not so bad if I can simply hermitize myself, but the season brings with it a bunch actual work at work, as well as ancillary winter-related chores, like supervising WeaselWoman while she shovels snow. I have yet to convince her that it will eventually melt, but she insists on doing things the hard way..

Anyhoo, hopefully you have not been a stranger at the range during the long, dark winter. You, um, have been going to the range and practicing your fundamentals, haven't you? Please don't tell me you are a fair weather shooter.

OK. I was afraid of this. You disappoint Weasel.

Show of hands. Who has been to the range in the last 30 days? Shooting, at least shooting well, is a perishable skill. Do you take months off from pole vaulting, or wingsuit flying, or bomb disarming and expect to retain all your skills? Please take this as a friendly reminder to find your firearm, clean and lubricate it, and head to the range for a little fundamentals practice, 'kay?

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Guns of the Horde
Well our pal Butch isn't a disappointment to Weasel and has been to the range!

Lee Enfield No. 4 Mk 1

I took my English Roses Caroline (Lee Enfield No. 4 Mk 1) and Imogen (Lee Enfield No. 5 Mk 1) to the range today to zero them: place 1.5" high by 1" wide target at 25 yards, place peep sight at 200 yds, aim at bottom of rectangle. Zero is when boolitt impacts 3/4" above POA.

Lee Enfield No. 5 Mk 1

Results are mediocre; my 29+ eyes have difficulty making out the zero target. To move the POA down, I need to install taller front sights and I am already max-ed out. Traditional target indicates if I aim just above belt buckle, I will hit the trunk. I am not a sniper going for 500-yards head shots. Minute of dirt bag out to several hundred yards is good enough. Maybe I'll make it to a TXMOME one of these years and bring them along.

I met a couple of young fellas who ooh-ed and aah-ed over the old girls.

Very nice, Butch! Thank you for sharing!

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Here is a little refresher video on cleaning a pistol.

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National Rifle Association Board Elections

We have a good question from our pal Skyrunner on the upcoming NRA Board Elections.

I was wondering if you could give us Morons some suggestions on how to vote on the current NRA Ballot? My dear wife shared these suggestions, posted on a blog she reads. What do you think about the four recommendations; Phil Journey, Dennis Fusaro, Jeff Knox, and Rocky Marshall.

Could you share your thoughts?

My thoughts? Well, I do know some current NRA Board Members from my competitive shooting days, but not any of these guys personally so I will do what everyone else does and that is turn to the internet for answers. I was able to find the same four names recommended in an article at Ammoland which I think has proven to be reliable where these sort of things are concerned.

The article linked above is pretty good, and states the four are "...dedicated to reforming the troubled NRA..." and that's about all your 'ol pal Weasel needs to hear. Maybe these guys are big fat liars and don't have any intention of reforming anything, but I have to ask one question; could they do any worse than what we have now?

The 2024 ballots will be in the March editions of NRA publications. If any of all y'all have an opinion of the NRA Board in general, or these four candidates in particular, I'd love to hear what you think in the comments.

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More Restoration

Here is another restoration video - what do you think?

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Life Skills
A contribution from our pal bluebell.

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Freight Train Assembly

Q: Weasel, how do you assemble a freight train?
A: It's easy! See below.

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Zane Grey - Buffalo Stampede - 1933

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Musical Interlude
Alaska blizzard sounds! Bye winter!

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Gun Basics 101
New video from the She Equips Herself gal! This week's video is on safety at the gym.

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Cigar of the Week

This week our pal Diogenes scores again with this excellent review of the Romeo y Julieta 1875

I may have covered this cigar some time ago but if so, the report still stands.

A good line from a recent Weasel Thread: "When everything goes to shit, stop shooting and go back to the fundamentals!" I had a similar epiphany earlier when selecting a cigar. After sampling a number of different brands, sometimes it's just necessary to go back to where you started. I fired up the Romeo y Julieta 1875. For me, this was the cigar that began it all. Like a favorite shootin' iron that you know will never fail you, the 1875 is as reliable as any cigar I have ever smoked. The initial taste includes hints of pepper and coffee and it soon flows into a pleasant smooth tobacco flavor. Possessed of an Indonesian wrapper and Dominican binder and long-filler, is offers an soft draw and slow burn. It is a mild smoke, affordable, and goes well with just about any beverage. An absolute favorite.

Excellent, Diogenes, thank you! The 1875 is a favorite of mine, too!

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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
Nicks Cigar World New!

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 and certified gun nut Iris. Great one!

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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?