Gun Thread: 7th Anniversary 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 Jumping Atomic Anniversary Shitballs! Seven years! For something that was supposed to last a few weeks, a full seven years sure did go by quickly! I want to take the opportunity to thank each and every one of you for hanging out here with me for all these years. All y'all are the best. I am often thanked for doing this thread, and although I appreciate the sentiment, the truth is I'm not really doing much at all. Those who know me understand this is just my normal bullshit, and at best all I'm really doing is starting a conversation. Where the magic happens is in the comments where all of you guys and gals get busy every week. You're the ones who have made this a happy and fun little corner of the internet for shooting enthusiasts. Without you, I'm just talking to myself. Thanks!

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

The first guy uses the magic word! Twice!

They Mome'n down in Texas!

With September, the time has come to begin the discussion of the upcoming TXMoMe in Corsicana, TX on October 17-18. This is the TENTH annual TXMoMe, or Conservative Burning Man as it's popularly known, and it promises to be a doozy. If you're in either the Northern or Southern Hemisphere of the Planet of the Earth, contact Ben Had for details on attending. The dates and email links for all MoMes are always helpfully included on the blog's main page, left sidebar.

What started years ago as a small get-together and informal plinking session lasting a couple of hours has matured into a full scale jamboree-hootenanny including a program of shooting activities for both handguns and rifles over two days. I have to thank Ben Had, Cow Horse Queen and RancherBob for making this whole thing happen and providing the opportunity for the shooting to comprise such a significant portion of the event. But wait! There's more! Combine that with world class food and drink, and the even world classier company of your fellow Morons, and you have a weekend that legends are made of.

For those not inclined to shoot (?), there are non-stop opportunities to relax in the shade of the carport or under a handy nearby tree with a beverage and visit with your online pals to your hearts content, which is really what the whole damn thing is about in the first place.. Specifics of the Friday/Saturday schedule of activities will be posted here in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.

Allow me to be serious for a minute. I have said this probably two hundred and fifty-seven times now. These gatherings are a really good time, and I know of no one who expresses regret after having attended one. Actually it goes beyond that. It's not just a weekend of laughs, it's an opportunity to connect with lots of like-minded people and create lasting friendships and priceless memories. No kidding. Think that's hyperbole? It snot. Would your ol' pal Weasel lie to you? Well, yes he would, but not about this. TXMoMe veterans will attest to the funness and completely laid-back nature of the event. Don't be a dork, do yourself a favor and get yo' ass to Texas!

TXMoMe veterans: please jump into the comments to encourage the scairdy-cats to join in the fun! What was your first MoMe like? What were you expecting? Were you surprised? Did you have a great time?

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 an 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!!

This week's episode: Machine Napping

Cigar of the Week

This week our pal rhomboid scores again with this excellent review of the Aladino Cameroon.

Cameroon leaf gets its name from the west African country where tobacco originally brought from Indonesia flourished, and produces a distinctive kind of flavor profile for cigar making. JRE Tobacco, maker of Aladino cigars, has used Cameroon seed to grow tobacco in Honduras, and the result is pleasing. I tried the robusto (5 X 52). Handsome medium brown wrapper with a hint of red to it. "Toothy" Cameroon wrapper leaf, meaning rustic looking with veins and a slightly rough appearance. Under the wrapper are Honduran corojo binder and fillers. A medium cigar, with ample smoke - one of the two I tried required some burn management. Draw was easy. Interesting flavor profile. Notes of something like mint or pine, producing a faintly sweet element atop a mellow tobacco base flavor. All the notes were subtle, so a smooth overall impression. Different than you'll get from an Oliva Serie G with its African Cameroon wrapper (and Nicaraguan fillers), but very pleasant. The Aladino Cameroon is available online for $9 and up.

Excellent as always, 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
Lucky Gunner Ammo NEW!

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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