Monday, August 27, 2012

A Very Fine BlogMeet

Attendees included Dale, Karl Ushanka, Don, The Jack, Owen, Tam, Yr. Crspndt and Turk Turon. Discussion ranged from weaponry -- and the testing to destruction thereof -- to turbines -- and the testing to destruction thereof; from gun school -- and the testing to destruction thereof -- to politics -- ditto.

Photo to follow,...if it's not in this spot already. (Speaking of "spot," The Jack leaned back out of frame at the the exact wrong time. Sorry!)

Earlier at the range, I'd done my own testing, though I am pleased to say, not to destruction. As reported earlier, the little Colt .22 Target Police Positive worked very well and shoots (as expected) to point of aim. Given the age of the gun (1924), the sights are impressively large and well thought out. It is positively gracile compared to every other .22 revolver I one, save one: the H&R Young America, which appears to be a First Model: a black powder gun. Colibri loads are very light and I chanced it. Yes, it shoots. Trigger pull is hard and long, sights are minimal, but it does go bang at least sixty percent of the time when the hammer falls. It is probably over 120 years old, certainly past the century mark.

I also checked out the Iver Johnson Sealed 8, now that it's been taken in hand by Shannon at Coal Creek Armory. Oh, wow! It was fun to shoot before, but cantankerous. Now it's a pure and simple delight, and a real tackdriver too, possibly better than the High Standard Sentinel. Tam showed me a locked-thumb revolver grip that really, really works with the high, vertical grip and lets you put 'em right where the sights are lined up. (The same manner of holding a revolver is a disaster with the High-Standard: too many thumbs in the way! My normal semi-auto grip is best for shooting it.)

While I was shooting, the Rangemaster himself, Guy, stopped by and reminded me of the nice little 6"-barrel H&R 622 rig he'd been given: gun, holster, gunbelt with cartridge loops (for .22!). He'd had his fun with it and was giving thought to selling; would I be interested? ...Did he even have to ask! It needs cleaned, oiled and possibly a new mainspring; I am happy to add it to the stable nevertheless. The price was more than good. (Photos, later...y'know, after I pick up a Tom Mix hat and gloves to go with.)

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Cool, you now have a hook. You are the funky revolver woman.

Shootin' Buddy

Ian Argent said...

And a demonstration what I say of gun-blogger get-togethers: The probability of someone doing something on a smartphone at any particular point during a blogger drink and dinner approaches 1.

Home on the Range said...

Sounds like fun! I'm sorry the engine show and the gun show were the same weekend. You would have enjoyed it.

Barkley was happy to be rescused (actually he loves doggie day cammp when he goes there, lots of outside grassy play area and tons of toys).

Woodman said...

I had every intention of making this one, but my mother-in-law was offering to can beans if I picked them. So I saddled the posse up and we went to Laurel instead. After a few hours picking and breaking down green beans and then driving back to Pendleton I was in no shape for anything but a nap.

Don said...

I was there in spirit! Our family stopped for dinner at Monon Food Co on Saturday evening on our way home from visiting Indy and points north. I even mentioned to the Missus that you were going to be having the blogmeet across the street the next day.

One of these days the stars will align and I'll get up there for another blogmeet...

JohninMd(help!) said...

Tom Mix hat? Gal, you can't be THAT old. Next thing you know, you'll be hidin' an' ropin' with Gene, Roy and Gabby. AND Dale, a'course.

Cincinnatus said...

So you can now outfit a battalion ... if that battalion was squirrel hunting?

Anonymous said...

Does the moustache now mean Tam is getting older? :-P

PS - please don't tell her I said this!

gfa

Karl said...

That was a great time, but it sucks drinking diet Coke at a brewery. Just another reason to move to Indy.

Thanks for organizing the blogmeet Roberta, and congrats on winning the Commie Obama hats!

karl

The Jack said...

Hah invisible!

Had a great time.

Glad that Iver Johnson works out well. It looks like a real fun wheelgun.

Keads said...

Sorry I missed it! I'm on the road heavy next month too. Sigh....

Roberta X said...

Karl, I think I sort of "won" one by default? We'll have to address that next time.

John in MD: My Dad was a big Tom Mix fan as a child -- even had a little projector and an 8mm of Mix in "Destry Rides Again," I suspect the abridged version. :)

Robin: if the enemy is tin cans, I'm your armorer!

Keads, Brigid, Don: there will be other times.

FWIW, The Brew Pub's (in-house?) handcrafted soft drinks include "Pepper Cherry," a kind of cherry cola/sarsaparilla. Turk cautions that it is not for the anise-averse (bit of a liquorice flavor) but I really liked it!

skidmark said...

Tam owes us another picture! Ask her where her new Indian Name hat was.

stay safe.

Tam said...

skidmark,

D'oh! :o

Hanging on the hat rack in the living room. I meant to grab it after the range and before the blogmeet!

Next time.