Gun Thread: Mid-June & Father's Day 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 Mid-June and Father's Day? A big hearty Gun Thread HFD to all the Dads out there!

Big happenings in WeaselWorld this week. After 40 years with the same company, I retired on Friday. Frankly, it's hard to believe I didn't manage to somehow screw that up at some point over the years. Anyhoo, that should free up some time for farming and shooting and Gun Thread writin', and who knows - maybe even some WeaselAcres videos down the road. But bigger than that; way, way, WAY bigger than that, the 2025 NoVAMoMe is this coming Saturday, June 21st. There is still time for you to email our pal bluebell if you would like to attend, but you really should now be rushing your NoVAMoMe plans to completion. Hope to see you next Saturday!

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

Fundamentals of attitude and preparation, that is. Last week I asked the following:

Welp, I think we have pretty well established you people, for the most part, are not thinking about anything and definitely not focusing on fundamentals when you are shooting.

SIGH

This hurts, people. This hurts Weasel deeply

Q: Weasel, why does our lack of focus on fundamentals hurt you so deeply?
A: Glad you asked.

It hurts Weasel, because Weasel knows this is the true path to shooting enlightenment.

How about attitude? Do you think your attitude affects your shooting? If so, how so?

What I am getting at is attitude and mental preparation are key aspects of performance. It doesn't much matter what complex task you are performing, your attitude and preparation plays an important part in deciding whether you suck or perform well. That's what this whole focus on fundamentals boils down to. If you want to shoot well, focus on the fundamentals of shooting. If you want to make toast well, focus on the fundamentals of making toast.

Hell, you don't need to believe me. Here is a video with a Delta badass describing his very own focus on fundamentals during his official badass training. It's over three hours long, but you only need to watch a few minutes.

Skip to 24:00 and stop around 33:35.

See? Do you see? I did not just make this fundamentals business up. If you want to shoot well, it starts with fundamentals. If you want to improve, it continues with fundamentals.

So what about attitude?

Attitude is a part of preparation. Proper attitude involves focusing on the task at hand. I have mentioned this before, but I have seen more than one competitive shooter take themselves entirely out of a match on the basis of attitude alone. You have to be positive and confident about what you are doing on the range. You need to mentally rehearse the proper fundamental way of doing things before you start, and then go do them at the range. Things not working out? Ready to quit and go home and lick your wounds? No. Go back to fundamentals and figure out what went wrong.

Try it people. It works.

Next Week: Fundamentals.

Note: One of the great joys of NoVAMoMe season, at least for me, is being able to cut and paste the entire block of text below and haranguing you to attend the event. Are you attending? Are you focusing on the fundamentals of attending?

Alright, guys and gals, the long awaited and highly anticipated details of the 2025 NoVAMoMe are here! That's right, I finally got my act together and updated the information page for 2025, and need to go over a few details. First, the date is June 21st, 2025. Nextly, my bestest blog buddy bluebell and I have decided 2025 will be a year of NoVAMoMe simplification, and want to pass along the changes from prior years.

First, no more registration and no more advance charge for food. If you would like to attend, send an email to WeaselBell Productions, and let us know. You will be directed to a sekrit webpage with all of the details. We do ask once you have decided to attend to let us know so we can coordinate an expected count with venue management. Once there if you are hungry or thirsty simply order from the onsite menu and pay separately. Cash and credit cards accepted. Next, although fun, we have decided to take a break from the raffles and mug sales this year. Depending on how it goes, that may be something we bring back in future years. While your generosity is always appreciated, with no prize table, please leave donations and contributions at home, but bring your appetite for a great afternoon spent with your imaginary online friends.

A NoVAMoMe PSA from our pal bluebell

Hi folks - just a quick PSA. If you write for info about the MoMe, please give us a few words in the body of the email just so I know you are a Moron and not a spammer (moron). I do receive spam on this email account because it's sitting right here in my nic, so that's why I'm asking. I don't want to give our details to a spammer. Also, remember to check your spam folder if you don't receive a reply email.

Thanks.
bluebell

Seriously, just send an email then go to the website with the password provided. If you forget, a link to the email is on the main page, left sidebar. If you do not sign up, bluebell will be disappointed. Weasel will be disappointed, too, but it's bluebell you need to worry about.

That's it, people. Email WeaselBell Productions today!

This week our pal rhomboid scores again with this excellent review of the Undercrown Shade by Drew Estate

Lately I've been trending mostly maduro and darker fare, but came into a new-to-me Connecticut shade stick to try, and glad I did. Drew Estate's Undercrown Shade is a handsome golden brown cigar with minimal "tooth" or veins to its wrapper. Actually as you'll see in the photo, this stick had some small cracks in the wrapper up near the cap. Noticed this, so got out my handy burmacol (vegetable glue, what holds cigars together) and touched up the flaws - and let it dry while I loaded another 50 rounds of 45ACP. When I did burn this cigar, it was a pleasant experience throughout. Even burn, nice medium draw, ample smoke (though not as much as many Drew Estate sticks put out, which can be sort of amazing). Definitely mild-medium, with a distinct overall sweetness, and to me a sweet citrusy note. Perfect choice when you're looking for something mild and easy. I smoked the gran toro (6 X 52), which can be found online for just over $8. As a side note, any more than occasional cigar smoker should have the glue on hand. I have PerfecRepair brand, there are others. Wrappers do sometimes crack, and for a few bucks you can have the ability to save a cigar that would otherwise unravel on you.

Most excellent, rhomboid! Thank you!

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!

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!

This week's mailbag entry is from our pal CBD. Great one!

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?

posted by Weasel at 07:00 PM

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