July 2012 - Argghhh!

...aside from SWWBO's trip to the ER (she's fine, just sick and tired of being sick... and tired). I assembled the Castle's newest enlistee (and a long-time dream of the Armorers) - our Fulton Armory M21. Started with an FA barreled action and stripped bolt (they did the headspacing) and a CMP kit of M14 parts. The finishes matched up surprisingly well. So - from this:

Especially if that gunfight is with Jonn Lilyea over at This Ain't Hell. .. Picking fights with Jonn Lilyea isn't your best bet. I have a technical quibble, though, Jonn. A BSM is a jumped-up MSM, not a jumped-up ARCOM. Of course, that kinda reinforces your points about the unliklihood of an update... and trying to keep the awards system straight in your head. The two fellows currently swinging pen knives at Jonn while he unlimbers his Kimber are Paul Rieckhoff of IAVA , and, of course, Mike...

...finds a home in the Castle Argghhh! Domiciliary for Old Veterans. A Gras M1874/M80 musketoon. He hitched a ride from New York via the Big Brown Toy Truck. The carbine length version of the first french metallic cartridge rifle, a slight modification of the Chassepot, which was the french needlegun. We have both a Chassepot and Gras in the collection, as well.

The way wars are being fought is changing. I understand that. And people who deploy to combat zones (well, mostly officers) but who rarely, if ever, hear a bullet go by, get Bronze Stars - which is just the equivalent of a Meritorious Service Medal in a combat zone. Drone pilots want their piece of that pie. I don't care if there is an award for excellence in flight simulation. HOWEVER - It is pure.utter.bullshit. if it ranks above the Soldiers Medal, which requires an element of serious personal...

Two bags of small parts - check. One bag of larger parts - check. Scattered parts large enough to not need/fit in a bag - check. Custom-made, Fulton Armory national-match stripped bolt and barreled action - check. Small assortment of needful toolage - check. Autographed copy of Kuleck and McKee's "The M14 Complete Assembly Guide" - check. Small libation offered to Saint Barbara for the Harrington and Richardson-built M14 that had to die so that I could have the "organ donation"...

That's when you know things are working like they're supposed to. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood on what it's like work for the government in Beijing , er, Washington, the District of Columbia: "The Chinese are more successful [in building infrastructure] because in their country, only three people make the decision. In our country, 3,000 people do, 3 million. In a country where only three people make the decision, they can decide where to put their rail line, get the money...

This month's round-up of Gun Giveaways and Contests, via Aaron Spuler at The Gun Blog . Go, throw him some traffic and check it out, seeing as how he did you this favor!

...in a crowded market of rent-seekers. "Without a clear strategic ‘narrative’, and a means to sell it, strategically-inept politicians faced with ever more strident demands from the pressure groups and single-issue lobbyists who now infect democracy will cut navies to the point of strategic irrelevance." Read the rest here . Discuss among yourselves.