Out of town...

So here's a pretty picture I took with my phone and forgot about last fall. Back Monday give or take.

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More on Mill's Fleet Farm

Yesterday I confirmed that Mill's Fleet Farm (not to be confused with Blane's Farm & Fleet) will be carrying handguns in the next month or so.  I also said I'd expand on why I'm more than a little excited about this.

Mill's Fleet Farm is primarily a farm supply store, however they do stock quite a bit of household goods, clothing, and outdoor recreation stuff, primarily hunting and fishing.  It's kind of like taking a Tractor Supply and mixing it with Walmart, so while they do have camping stuff, it's not the high end stuff you'd find at even Gander Mountain or a similar purely outdoors store.

Fleet Farm has always been more gun friendly than similar stores (Blane's Farm & Fleet expressly prohibits Open Carry in their stores, where Mill's Fleet Farm welcomes it.)  Their prices have never been anything all that special, but they've generally got the largest selection of ammunition in town, and a fairly decent offering of long guns.  They also have an isle full of Military Surplus items, and in the last year have started carrying factory Remington 870 mag extensions and a Midwest Industries AR Carbine sized rail system.  Handguns really aren't that much of a stretch.

Why I'm surprised is that while it's not a big chain (Mostly just Wisconsin and a few neighboring states) it's still a corporate-ish chain store.  Given that within the last year or so some Walmart locations stopped carrying handgun ammo, or firearms all-together, for "image" reasons (they have recently decided to turn around on that decision.  I guess the sales numbers spoke) I am pleasantly surprised to see another chain/big-box type store taking a step in the other direction.

It's not that far of a stretch though.  As I've said, Fleet Farm has traditionally been gun-friendly anyway, and while I can't speak for other locations, the Stevens Point, WI location is poised to fill a decade long, county-wide void in the market (currently the nearest dealer that regularly stocks handguns is a 40+ mile drive down the interstate in the next county north of us.)  Also, it's looking like Wisconsin will have CCW legislation of some sort (Constitutional or Shall-issue) by October, and demand for handguns will increase.  Capitalism at its best.

It's a smart business move, and is probably giving the PR rep an aneurysm.  Personally, I'm mostly happy to only have to drive across town to drool over handguns rather than to the next county.

Fleet Farm Getting Handguns

I'd heard a rumor, and it's been confirmed, a big box-ish retailer in Wisconsin is going to start stocking handguns by the end of June. The big roll case displays will house them.

The employee didn't know what will be stocked right now, but knew at least Glock and Taurus.

I'm sure it'll be MSRP, but it may be a trade off for just driving across town rather than two 90 mile round trips to the nearest place that does.

More on it when I'm at a computer tomorrow or so.

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Steyr AUG to Continue US Sales

Good.  An AUG is on the list of 'eventual wants.'

Suddenly, Summer

Last week we had frost warnings at night, and it was dangerously approaching below freezing temperatures during my overnight shifts.  Now it's 81 degrees out, and hit 90 yesterday.  In true Wisconsin form, we decided to once again skip Spring.  It's a shame, since Spring used to be my favorite season.

"It's Not About You."

Jay G nailed down something I've mentioned to a few people today over the years with a quote...

The title of this post was something said... ...at last year's Memorial Day parade by a retired Major. He addressed the group of veterans gathered to march in the Memorial Day and reminded them that if they were here today, it was not about them. It was about those that can no longer march in parades; those who will never again taste the freedom they fought so valiantly to preserve.

I try to remind everybody who offers me, as a veteran, thanks today.  Today isn't about me, or the other veterans around.  We've got a day in November all to ourselves.  Today is about the veterans you can't thank, those that are long gone, but not forgotten.

Never Forget

By all means, have fun if you have today off, hang out with friends and family; just remember what today is about.

QOTD

Yup... That's pretty good.

ATF Long Gun Registry Comments

I'm sure it's been covered, but since MAiG is playing dirty, somebody decided to fight back.

This is my shocked face...

Gun Ownership Soars, While Violent Crime Rates Drop... Again.

Day Off..

Had yesterday and most of today off, so not much happened around here.  Things'll be back towards as normal as they usually are in a bit.

Wisconsin SB-93 (Constitutional Carry) Update

Yesterday the State Senate Judiciary Committee passed the amended version of SB-93, the "Constitutional Carry" bill, by a vote of 3-2.

The big thing in the amendment is the inclusion of a permit system to allow concealed carry within the magic 1000' school zone bubbles and to gain reprocity with states that require a license from the bearer's home state.

The full senate vote is expected when the senate reconvienes in early June.

Ping!!!

Just pulled the metaphorical trigger on the Small Spring Base and Small Practical Plinger from Salute Products Inc.

The range I tend to frequent is generally in rough shape, being free and open to the public with no supervision (yeah, some scary moments over the years, but it beats the snot out of the county run alternative with downright retarded arbitrary rules...) The target stands generally don't make it more than a month on the shorter ranges, and even when they're still there, paper just gets boring after a while.

I like the easily replaceable target face, and from what I can find on the ol' interwebs, if you only use one spring they should respond to .22lr, which should make it more than fantastic for getting new shooters hooked.  The audible and visual indication of a hit always makes it more pleasurable.  (Paper still has it's place for training and technique evaluation though.)

I'm pretty excited though, hopefully it's just the thing to kick my butt back into getting to the range regularly.

June 5th Non-Event

Breda and a few others are planning an OC non-event for Sunday, June 5th.  The idea is to do what some of us do everyday, and that is to go about doing your daily business with an openly carried firearm (local laws apply.)

Jetboil Zip & Coffee Press

So I got pretty tired of the lack of decent coffee when my unit's out in the field.  With the prospect of 2 weeks of wonderful Ft. McCoy coming up next month, I decided to do something about it.

Long ago I saw a Jetboil Java System in a camping catalog.  Really nothing more than their standard Flash cooking system with a French Press style filter that fits in the cup.  After minutes of gruelling online research, I found the Jetboil Zip and separate Coffee Press were cheaper to order separately than to get the full blown Java System.

What makes the Zip cheaper is a combination of a simpler stove, requiring a separate ignition source rather than the built in piezoelectric igniter on the other models; and a slightly smaller cup, 0.8 liters, rather than 1 full liter.

One of Jetboil's selling points is that their cooking systems all fold up and store inside the cooking cup.  Despite the smaller cup size on the Zip, I was still able to get everything I need for good coffee inside the system, and it fit quite nicely inside my new pack.  Jetboil claims the system comes in at 12oz, not counting the fuel can or little plastic stabilizer legs.

Granted I had to put the filter screen portion of the press in the measuring cup, it still fit fine provided it was upside down.  By leaving the regular stove top part (what they call the "pot stabilizer") at home I was able to get the press's rod sections inside the cup.

The stove assembles quickly and simply, the stabilizer (orange triangle bit) unfolds, the fuel can clips onto it, and the stove threads onto the top of the fuel can.  From there you can either place the cup with the "FluxRing" on it to boil water, or the pot stabilizer to use regular pots and pans or Jetboil's larger sized FluxRing frying pan or 1.5 liter pot.

Speaking of fuel, the only downside of the Jetboil system is that it uses Jetboil's proprietary fuel cans (it can run off of other backpacking stove manufacturer's pressurized cans, like MSR's, but they won't fit in the cup for storage.)  The nearest retailer that stocks them is a 40 minute drive for me, and if you're flying somewhere you'll have to find a source at your destination, since you can't fly with pressurized fuel cans.  On the upside, a 100oz can only runs about $5 and Jetboil says it'll boil about 10 liters of water.  I tend to use about a half a liter to make coffee, so 20 uses for $5 isn't too bad.

On the upside, the fuel burns hot and clean, with a nice pretty blue and purple flame.  Here's the stove running with the valve a little less than half open-

In practice, the little stove will bring the little pot of water up to a rolling boil in around 3 minutes.  I scalded my hand pretty good the first time I played around with it, so it's a good idea to watch it and not fill the cup too full.  The 500ml line on the cup is a good spot for coffee making, and fills my Nissan Thermos cup exactly.

The Press Kit is a thing of genius too.  It consists of a plastic and metal mesh filter that fits snuggly inside the Jetboil cup, and the rod unscrews into two sections and fits through the hole in the middle of the lid (which also has drain holes and a sippy spot.)

Not much to say here for those familiar with French Press style coffee, the kit works fantastically, and there were no grounds in the bottom of my cup.  What else could you ask for?

As far as use goes, I assembled the system, filled the cup, and lit the stove up.  The water boiled quickly, I turned off the stove, tossed in the desired amount of quality grounds, stirred, and let steep for about four minutes.

Yummy

After taking the photo, the press and lid were stuck on to keep bugs and other crap from getting on.


Coffee in the shade of a 5-ton Dump

























Once enough time has elapsed, the plunger was slowly plunged, and the liquid deliciousness was poured into my thermos so I could brew up another cup for the Section SGT.


Requisite gun and coffee.  M4 Carbine (I know, no mag. 
Stupid rules,) fresh pressed Guatemalan Dark.



All said and done, easily the most delicious cup of coffee I've ever had while wearing ACUs.

Yawn...

Coffee's taking time to kick in... I'm going to retreat to a paperback and hopefully get some photos edited for some product review-ness in a bit.

Check back later I'd say.

8P'

That's an excited drooly face...

I want one.

Sounds About Right

Breda OC'ed in public... and the usual happened.

Where It All Goes Down

RTB asked a bunch of us about where most of our blogging happens.

at least 75% of it happens on my little Eee PC-

I've added a couple other stickers since I took that photo... a BCM Gunfighter (because they're awesome charging handles, and it fit perfect) and a Wisconsin Carry, Inc. member one (because they're just an awesome group.)

As far as the geographic location of said blogging, a vast amount occurs at Emy J's, my preferred area caffeine slinger.

I'll admit, the coffee place is borderline hippie/hipster at times, but I take a perverse joy in writing a heavily gunny oriented blog on a gun sticker festooned netbook at such a place.  Plus it is the best coffee in town, hands down.  I mean they're roasting fresh beans right now about 30 feet away from me.  It smells fantastic.

Conversion Commencing...

The girlfriend is dangerously approaching gun blogger status on her fledgling blog.  Work schedules and flat out crappy weather have conspired to prevent her inaugural range trip, but she's got The Four Rules down, and really can't wait to get out there.  (Which is good, I can't wait to get her out either, as I've said before, teaching new shooters is my favorite part of the sport.)

Well then.

So the Rapture came and went, and failed to interrupt our engineer task training and general FTXness.  Although it could have been only for my credit/debit cards, those apparently got degaussed over the weekend...

I guess that means I'll have to show up to work in a few hours.

Pony

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FTX Time

Packing for a weekend FTX... be back Monday or so (aside from any posts from the field.)

Will be testing a few new products, the Jetboil ZiP, with Jetboil's coffee press assembly (that's right, taking field coffee to a whole new level!) a cheap-o solar charger for the smartphone, and the Grey Ghost Lightweight Assault Pack (in Multicam.)  Some pretty cool stuff lined up the upcoming weeks.

Be Prepared

Shelly tossed up some words worth reading at Gun Nutz.  Nothing new or groundbreaking, but something we should be reminded of every so often.

In the words of the grizzled old Sheriff, "This little thing?  Ma'm, if I was expectin' trouble, I woulda brought my rifle."

Full Auto 1911A1

Sexy.

Beast of Kandahar

Fox News is reporting that the RQ-170 Sentinel, better known as "The Beast of Kandahar," was used to keep an eye on the Bin Laden compound before the raid.



Image Source

















After the stealthy drone was spotted in country, wild speculation as to what it was doing there popped up all over the place.  After the raid, a lot of people thought it may have been doing just what Fox is reporting.

Gun(s) & Coffee

I was going to post this photo last week, but Blogger was broke.

Anyway, CZ52, 6oz of fresh espresso poured on top of a sugar cube and a teaspoon of caramel flavor syrup... next time I'm going to omit the sugar though, makes it too candy-like for coffee.

Need Gear...

Specifically, a Multicam Molle pouch capable of holding a Jetboil system that doesn't cost almost as much as the stupid stove does.  Ideally by this weekend, but realistically by the second week of June.

Anybody have a lead on such a beast?

Picture of the...

Day, Week, Month.... I don't know anymore....

I really like the clouds rolling over the mountains.

Readers may recognize Guns & Coffee friend/sometimes contributer Cro (of Rubber Band AR fame.  My evil plan is to rope him into more stuff when he's back.) He's currently in Afghanistan, but things are going well.

Magpul Dummies in Colors

Magpul has put up a limited run of their polymer dummy 5.56 rounds in FDE and Orange in cigarette box style 12 packs.

I'll probably snag a pack or two of orange.  That could be a handy color.