Memorial Day

 

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

Why I Carry

I said it years ago, and the recent event in London only further proves it. There are people in this world that will kill people like me, simply for putting on a uniform.  I refuse to be an easy target.

New camo?

Much like the last time I was in Afghanistan, it looks like the Army will be announcing a new camouflage pattern before I get home.  I kind of hope that new uniforms will be available fast, and I will be able to toss all my UCP pattern garbage (or maybe burn it in effigy) before I have to go back to drilling once a month.

News From Home

Cats are still cats.

And people water still tastes better.

PMag AK 30 MOE

Much to my surprise (and likely more than a few others,) soon you'll be able to get PMags for your AK-47 type rifles.

Very cool. Good for either style, or 922R parts count.

Weird News for the Day

Giant head found floating in river. 

Somebody's missing that...

Assault Banana Clips!

Spotted at Walmart by Manda...

Must ban, for the children.

Content... (and a lack there-of)

Trying to think of some longer posts to write, just for the sake of something longer and whatnot; and all I can think of is getting home in July, and wondering who makes a good AIWB holster for the LCP, and why is it so dang hard to find a good IWB mag holder for the same?  Any leads would be appreciated on that (looking for kydex, for I am a sweaty man.)

Boston Area

Thoughts go out to them, and if you're in the area, keep your head on a swivel and stay safe.  Sounds like one down (good... driving(?) by the Police, shot by the police, then possibly run over by his brother as he made his escape.  Sounds like he could have been wearing a Suicide Vest IED type device.  No doubt hoped to take quite a few with him.)

Tools

In the spirit of the Boy Scouts, Be Prepared. Have the tools you need, and the training required to use them.  Carry these tools when you think you may need them, no matter how small the chance seems.

The C-A-T Combat Application Tourniquet is, in my opinion, one of the better options out there. It's not perfect (the windlass was known to break on older versions) but it's easy to use with the correct training (part of the reason there are two of them on my person as I type.)

While this may not be something everyone should carry, it is something worth looking into for first responders, especially LEOs or other personnel working security at large events.  I know I will continue to carry one at least while working when I get home.

Manchin-Toomey Fails

Tough Hook up for Pre-order

On good ol' Amazon.  The Tough Hook is an industrial strenght hanger intended for hanging really heavy stuff like body armor and SCUBA gear.  It even has a handle for carrying the stuff around.

I got in on the Kickstarter a while back, but they're offering advanced orders to further boost funding.  If you've got a plate carrier, it might be worth checking out.

Mossberg Expands 20ga. SD Offerings.

Looks like they're pushing out a couple pump 20 guage shotguns complete with extended tubes and ghost ring sights.  20" barrels (a little longer than I like for a 20ga HD, but oh well...) and either 13"LOP Bantam stock or an AR15 style adjustable setup.

Personally, I like the Bantam stock better, since it's a Mossberg and their safeties suck with a pistol grip.  It looks like they also dropped the pistol grip on the fixed stock down pretty drastically, which would give you improved control, but still be able to access the tang mounted safety.

It's a pretty tempting idea, since the little 20ga Remington 870 is currently pulling "bedroom duty," but there's an appeal for a Mossberg since I shoot right, and Manda shoots left.  The improved sights would be welcome as well.

PETA Drones...

...to "stalk hunters."  I have a feeling the only "illegal" activity they're going to record is destruction of private property as some heavy shot tears through their little "drone."  I honestly have no idea what they hope to prove, but it should be pretty damn funny.

By the way, I don't really hunt, but I'd be willing to tag along with my 930 to provide AA cover for anybody requiring it.

Android Brick

Woke up and my Motorola Electrify is stuck in a "boot loop" and I'm on the wrong side of the world for customer service.  Sucky,  because it's my alarm clock and "mini-tablet."  Sucked it up and tried a factory reset, and no luck.

Any suggestions?

EDC-1 Multitasker/Emerson Available

Now up on the Emerson webstore.

Very cool.  Need to get my hands on one... Look for a review later this summer most likely.

DeSantis Ammo Nemesis

If you pocket carry, this might be worth looking at.  The Nemesis is easily my favorite pocket holster, and this just makes it better.

Terms of Enlistment

If you've got a Kindle, and somehow haven't heard about Marko's book, Terms of Enlistment, you really should go and get it.  I finished it in just a couple sittings, and it's not a short book, just a fast paced read.  Plus it's apparently angered some people due dangly bits and a lack-there-of.

Halo-Derp

Time to laugh at the NYPD... Somebody snapped this photo of some tacti-cool dudes looking for a guy that shot some people:


(From Facebook)

Closest guy to the camera.

I'm guessing he'll be hitting up the armoror after they clear to figure out what's "wrong" with his optic there...

Shiny

Available for a freakin' steal if what Manda says about it is true.  (I haven't gotten to read it yet, but I got it for her as a surprise gift a few months back.)  If you like Firefly, you want it.

Did We Get a New Sheriff?

That was my first thought when Manda sent me this link.

Color me insanely surprised with our County's top LEO.  Previously he's parroted Flynn when it came to Open Carry, so I honestly never would have expected this.

Photo of the... month?

All the talk about issue weapons below made me remember I got a decent photo of my current issue zapper.  M4 Carbine, 1 ea.  Manufactured by Colt, Aimpoint Comp M4, and I haven't done much else other than better sling points and the new Magpul hand-stop kit.

FN Wins M4/M4A1 Contract

Gear Scout reports.  I'm sure Colt will continue to cry about it.

Seems kind of funny though, last I heard Colt still had the contract for the M240 family of weapons, which is an FN design; and now FN will make the M4, along with continuing to produce the M16 series, a weapon system Colt had a huge part in.

On a side note, the best rifle (in my mind) that I was ever issued had an FN built A2 upper and barrel on a rebuilt Colt A1A2 lower.  Cloverleafed zero targets every time... Never felt undergunned my first tour with that old girl.

State (Milwaukee...) Legislators Herped all over their Derp...

A Democratic state senator and three Democratic state representatives have circulated draft legislation that would ban civilian possession of hollow point or frangible ammunition. According to existing Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources regulations, sportsmen and women in Wisconsin must use such ammunition when hunting deer or bear. The Democratic lawmakers, two of whom are freshman, all hail from urban districts in the City of Milwaukee.

Their reasoning, in their oh so enlightened minds, is that hollow point and soft tipped "serve no purpose in self-defense or hunting use."  Nevermind that anyone that knows anything about the use of firearms will tell you that those are exactly the best rounds to use for both purposes.

To further the proof of their mental deficiency, there's this little tidbit:

 “While used by the military for decades – in part because they inflict massive wounds – hollowpoint bullets have little, if any, practical use for self-defense or hunting in everyday society. Tragically, they are essentially human-killing bullets.”

That right there is solid proof that they did ZERO research, and are talking straight out of their asses.  I can only hope that somebody sends them a copy of the Hague Declaration and they hire another intern to slap them on the hand and say "NO!" when they try to introduce anything else.

I think I may have to send them some photos of all these solid, lead-free bullets I got issued... not a single hollowpoint among them!

Gotta love the MSM...

In regards to the mess in California...

The man at the center of a massive manhunt in California is potentially armed with armor-piercing ammunition and semi-automatic rifles, could likely hit a target more than 50 yards away, thinks like a police officer and, perhaps most troublesome, is not abiding by any rules.
(Emphasis mine...)

I guess that is quite the accomplishment for most Navy guys (no offense, but unless you're on a SEAL Team, they just don't do much small arms training.)

Sensationalizm for the sake of selling paper

Fitting

My youngest brother tagged me on this in facebook...

 

Looks about right! Heh.

Currently sipping some fresh ground Mexican Chiapas from Emy J's made with my newest coffee gadget. It makes coffee almost as good as a French Press, but isn't a pain to clean, which is important when you don't have running water that's food safe.

Not What I Espected from North Chicago

Milwaukee County Sheriff Clarke urges residents to arm themselves.

"With officers laid off and furloughed, simply calling 911 and waiting is no longer your best option," Clarke intones. "You could beg for mercy from a violent criminal, hide under the bed, or you can fight back."
 

Apparently the Sheriff also called for arming teachers, and Mayor Barrett isn't amused, which endears the Sheriff to me that much more.

"I almost want a pitbull."

Part of this morning's email exchange with Manda...

"And no pitbull."

"I said almost. :-p It's my want of things assholes think I shouldn't have, just because said assholes think they look scary. Then it could ride in my '69 Roadrunner that gets crap-miles-per-gallon while I wave my sawed off shotgun out the window."

"Don't forget the grenade launchers welded to the roof."

"No, that would ruin the body lines."

See, I even have limits.

Sexy

The new Nikon 5200 has hit US shores, and it's pretty neat in my opinion.  It seems very similar to my D40, except on optical steroids... I was planning to get a new camera body when I got home from the deployment, so I can continue to take sweet pictures for your veiwing pleasure, and this just may be the one.  Plus, the red is sexy.

Little reminder:  whenever you click an Amazon add, I get a cut of the sales... which will be put towards said camera purchase.  It's a win/win for both of us, and costs you nothing.

Kind of want...

USFA ZiP .22lr.

I don't know if it's my love of "odd" guns or the SF look of it, but if the price is right, I may look for one.