Last Week (in "Geek's Bane") I warned my fellowIPSC shooters in Oregon's Columbia Cascade Section that our good friend and competitive benefactor, Dundee's "Evil Bill", had taken to heart my warning against the "Evil Star". (NB: this video does NOT show up inNetScape browser, but seems to work in Firefox and IE browsers.)
In return, Evil Bill vowed to modify an existing Texas Star to include added Evil Features.
Okay, it's a done deal and here is what it looks like in Evil Bill's workshop.
You can see the original video provided by Evil Bill here. (3.02mb download) After this weekend's IPSC match at the Dundee range, I'll set up a sub-album in Jerry the Geek's Shooting Gallery showing how the Evil Oregon Star actually works in a match.
I note in passing current (IPSC Handgun Competition Rules, USPSA Version, January 2004) USPSA rules include this restriction on target presentation:
2.1.8.4 - Static paper targets must not be presented at an angle greater than 90 degrees from the verticle.
This was proposed by IPSC (and subsequently accepted -- egregiously, I think) because the "Classic" target is roughly symmetrical in outline although the higher-scoring zones (eg: the "A-zone" are vertically asymmetrical.
This rule was imposed to the benefit of the competitor, who is often unable to determine the placement of this higher-scoring zone at a sufficient distance from the target. The "Metric" target, typically used inUSPSA competition, does not suffer from this design flaw.
For those who are wondering whether this target is legal under current IPSC / USPSA rules: yes, it is. As presented here, it is not a "static" target. That is, because the targets are moving, the rule does not apply to this target array. (One wonders what outrage would be generated if this target array were presented in anIPSC match when fitted with "Classic", rather than "Metric", targets.)
We in USPSA are encouraged by the recent publication of the draft 2008 USPSA rule book, which corrects this flaw as well as several others which are in the 2004 rule book and which have caused so much confusion and discord inUSPSA matches.
Liberal Americans thinkHarry Reid is a Great American, when he's really just a cheese-eating surrender monkey.
Liberal Americans thinkAlec Baldwin is a fine actor, when he's really a child abuser.
Liberal Americans thinkPartial Birth Abortion is a legitimate birth-control measure, when it's really murder of a child in the very act of being born.
Liberal Americans thinkSheryl Crow is an entertainer, when she's really a barking moonbat who believes using a single sheet of toilet paper to wipe your bottom should be enough for everyone.
(BTW, does anyone know her shipping address? I would like to send her a year's supply of toilet paper - in a #10 business envelope. What? It will only hold 150 sheets of Charmin? That's okay, as long as she doesn't offend herself.)
In keeping with my unfortunate tendency to equate gun-control messages with those which support ANY kind of 'hateful' weaponage, I give to you the Case for Fruit Control.
Tiffany Adler, 20, appeared in court Friday for the first time since being arrested on two misdemeanor counts of each crime. She pleaded not guilty and asked the court to appoint an attorney. She and her lawyer return to court July 2 for jury trial and she remains free from custody on her own recognizance.
On March 4, Adler reportedly lobbed apples and asparagus at a gay couple walking on the 500 block of Esplanade Drive. The van in which she was riding then turned around and Adler yelled “faggot” at the men, according to the District Attorney’s Office.
Pacifica police reported finding asparagus in Adler’s purse at the time of arrest.
Adler reportedly said the couple frequented the grocery store at which she works. She told police she was unaware the victims were gay and her actions were based on a prior conflict rather than discrimination.
Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe sees it differently.
“We definitely think this is a hate crime,” he said. “This one is pretty offensive.”
If convicted, Adler faces possible jail time and probation.
(Emphasis added)
The two high-lighted sentences are probably the most telling:
Pacifica police reported finding asparagus in Adler’s purse at the time of arrest.
Of course, that's primafacea evidence of intent, or ... uh ... something.
“We definitely think this is a hate crime,” he said. “This one is pretty offensive.”
Oh, dear! This one isn't a cross-burning, it's an ingenue with an itch.
"Pretty offensive"?
Please, spare me. The recent events (the VT massacre) provides a standard by which 'offensive' actions may be compared. This one event doesn't even deserve mention, let alone criminal prosecution. I'm sure the Pacifica police department has better things to do.
A Babe with Broccoli ("... and I'm not afraid to use it!") is a joke.
Why do I think that Zero Tolerance has gone mad in Pacifica?
Yeah, I bought the Mossberg ("Security") 590 rather than the Remington 870 shotgun last week, because of the comparisons which I cited in my original post. After a couple of range sessions, I've learned a LOT about this gun and about "Practical Shotgun" issues in general. I have a lot yet to learn, but as of today (my second Range Session with the shotty), I have some new information to bring to the table.
The first thing I have to offer is actually something of a revelation to me, although it shouldn't be.
When you buy a new gun, you have to practice with it before you can claim any degree of expertise.
Even though I've been shooting guns of all types (name a type ... I've shot it, if it was invented before 1970 and it's a man-personal firearm) for fifty + years, I've just learned that I don't know much about what I will henceforth refer to as "Practical Shotgun".
Last Monday, April 16 (the day after I bought the shotgun) I spent about an hour on the range with SWMBO and the 590. First thing I learned is that when you're shooting Buckshot (#4, #00 and #000), that stuff makes a helluva kick. SWMBO said it was 'fun' and I wasn't about to contradict her since it was the first time she ever shot a shotgun and I didn't want to contradict her. But it kicked me around pretty good. I didn't have a bruise, but I had a lot of aches that I couln't account for otherwise.
Today, I met The Hobo Brasser at the Albany Rifle & Pistol Club range and gave the Mossberg a good workout. I shot the 590 with two loads of birdshot ... my #7-1/2 downloaded from 1-1/2 oz to 1 oz of shot, and his #6 birdshot. I also shot his 1100 in 20 gauge, and his autoloader (sorry, I hope The Hobo will tell usthe make and model) 12 gauge semi-auto "Practical Shotgun".
The FIRST thing I learned was not news to me: when you have a shotgun with a rigid stock, and it's too short fora physiognomy which only can be described as a "Beer-bellied Spider Monkey", a slip-on rubber recoil pad can make a HUGE difference!
The second thing I learned is that a shotgun which is sold as a 'security' shotgun (ie: home defense) with a 20" barrel is NOT to be compared to a Winchester Model 12 "Featherweight" with a 28" + barrel and Birdseye Maple stocks. At least, not in terms of perceived recoil and definately in terms of indexing between targets and MOST definately in terms of pellet pattern when the Model 12 is a Full Choke and the 590 is a smooth-bore no-choke "cylinder" barrel.
I'm minded of the Star Trek movie "Undiscovered Country" here, if only because everthing I thought I knew about shotgun shooting just went out the window.
The Model 12 was set up for bird shooting. It was a fine trap-gun, because with the long full-choke barrel I could take my time shooting Clay Pigeons and pick up the last bird of a double ... often a triple ... when it was no more than 4' off the ground. Back in the '60's I was pretty smug about keeping up with my father's Beretta over/under with modified/IC choke on the trap range. If my fathere was still alive today, he would be chuckling about my new-found modesty. In fact, I can't help but think that he's looking down on me and smirking about my humiliation when the parameters of shotgun shooting have changed so dramatically .... although the word "parameters" would never have occured to him.
What he would have said was: "Kicked your butt, did it? 'Bout time, Boy!"
Yeah, it kicked my butt and it was all my fault.
I wasn't PREPARED for this kind of stuff, darn it!
[whine!]
The thing is, the pump on the 590 is lighter than I was accustomed to (years back, when I used shotguns much more frequently than I have recently) with a much heavier forward slide grip.
With the massive Birds-eye Maple forward slide grip, it was enough just to overcome inertia and get it moving. By the time it got to the end of its travel, it just naturally always locked into battery.
With the much lighter material, you have to muscle the pump to get it to reliably lock into battery, and I haven't got into the habit of SLAMMING the pump forward.
As a consequece, I 'very often' don't have a round completely chambered when I pull the trigger.
And it shows.
The Hobo Brasser was very patient about filming me as I took on a six-plate rack, and I have to say that the first run through worked perfectly. I hit every plate just right, and my trigger speed increased from the first plate to the last.
Unfortunately, there was a 'wardrobe malfunction' with the camera so I don't have a video of a good, clean run.
What I DO have is a whole series of videos where I either missed a plate, or (more frequently) I short-stroked the slide and while I was ready to shoot, the shotgun was not.
No, it's not the fault of the gun. It's just something that I don't consistently do right. Someday I'll get it right, every time. But today, it's just an exhibition of what NOT to do with your Practical Shotgun.
Ultimately, the 'last thing' I learned (but really the 'thing' I should have already realized) is that I need to find a spot on my loading bench where I can install my antiquated Lyman Versa-Mec Progressive Shotshell Reloader.
