The community I live in had a big pow wow with the County Sheriff this evening and I was amazed at some of the comments. After being told the number of deputies on duty at any given time, which was very few to cover 900 square miles, one person asked why there hadn't been a follow up on the information he supposedly had on possible suspects for the rash of burglaries we've had recently.
It seems the 16 year old daughter was home alone and a couple of men drove up trying to sell an asphalt driveway. Since the length of the driveway would have supposedly made the cost prohibitive, it was automatically assumed it was just an excuse to case the place and see if anyone was home. Without any laws being broken, except maybe endangerment to a minor that was left alone, the Sheriff was supposed to drop everything and send his understaffed deputies out to check on the report?
Another question was whether the state provides information of recently released prisoners. When told the parolees were reported, he wanted to know if those who had served their time were also reported to the sheriff. I always thought when you served your time, your obligation was fulfilled, you were free to go and do as you pleased and the offense wasn't continuously held against you.
Crime, especially burglary, is on the rise due to the economic situation. It's part of the fall out from a failure of the government's stimulus efforts, where there are many people out of work because of policies and laws passed in the last year or so. The government has taken over industries, which is far removed from the powers invested in them through Constitutional directives. There are unfunded mandates that are passed on to the local communities, which are creating economic hardships at every level of society.
There isn't a sense of propriety in much that is taking place now. The people seem to have lost any sense of what is proper in their quest for more things and have allowed the government to dictate what will or will not be done. The existence of the "nanny state" is evident in meetings, like what was held tonight. "They", the Sheriff's deputies, are supposed to protect property and prevent crime from ever happening, which is a ridiculous concept.
I have a gun that goes with me to meet strange vehicles. I don't leave the premises unoccupied very often and that in itself is a deterrent to crime. My wife is proficient with a shotgun, which is probably the best defensive device to use, especially when it's loaded with buckshot. We have made a living right here on the farm since 1987 and were satisfied with what we had (not having a television probably helped keep the "wants" under control). It would probably be better if everyone would heed these words: Philippians 4:11 Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
Contentment with what we have would ease a lot of economic burdens and bring over extended credit cards back under control. Taking care of yourself has always been part of being an American, so why would anyone expect the Sheriff to provide protection?
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Lunch on the farm!
It seems like politics and such have been the focus of attention too many times, so how about a visit for lunch?
Meals get harder to prepare when there are only two at home, but it can still be done and my wife excels at it. Much of what we eat is still grown here, which gives us good variety and it reduces the food bill tremendously, especially when it's red or yellow bell peppers and tomatoes that are consumed (fresh asparagus could also be included).
It really doesn't take a lot of time or money to grow your own food and particularly if it's more along the specialty food line. As we advance in age, we look for easier methods to allow us to enjoy fresh food, so we have started what we call "tub gardening". The winter molasses feed for cows has provided an abundance of containers that can feed a pretty large plant and also gets it up higher to eliminate much of the stooping and bending to weed and harvest. Here's a portion of this year's garden. The tub garden is to the left of the outdoor luncheon that was prepared.
All sorts of fruits and vegetables can be grown this way, to include strawberries and blackberries.
We still have a traditional garden, but it's mostly for crops that need more production to supply our needs, like green beans and peas.
Lunch today was a combination of vegetables and leftovers that took the form of beef stew.
Of course, no meal is ever complete without some cat head biscuits.
And a cherry shortcake dessert with real whipped cream!
One of the side benefits of affordable food is the ability to share with others. A portion of this meal will go to a neighbor whose wife is in a nursing home. Home cooked meals are a premium for people in a situation like that and are always appreciated!
Meals get harder to prepare when there are only two at home, but it can still be done and my wife excels at it. Much of what we eat is still grown here, which gives us good variety and it reduces the food bill tremendously, especially when it's red or yellow bell peppers and tomatoes that are consumed (fresh asparagus could also be included).
It really doesn't take a lot of time or money to grow your own food and particularly if it's more along the specialty food line. As we advance in age, we look for easier methods to allow us to enjoy fresh food, so we have started what we call "tub gardening". The winter molasses feed for cows has provided an abundance of containers that can feed a pretty large plant and also gets it up higher to eliminate much of the stooping and bending to weed and harvest. Here's a portion of this year's garden. The tub garden is to the left of the outdoor luncheon that was prepared.
All sorts of fruits and vegetables can be grown this way, to include strawberries and blackberries.
We still have a traditional garden, but it's mostly for crops that need more production to supply our needs, like green beans and peas.
Lunch today was a combination of vegetables and leftovers that took the form of beef stew.
Of course, no meal is ever complete without some cat head biscuits.
And a cherry shortcake dessert with real whipped cream!
One of the side benefits of affordable food is the ability to share with others. A portion of this meal will go to a neighbor whose wife is in a nursing home. Home cooked meals are a premium for people in a situation like that and are always appreciated!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Marie Antoinette?
There's quite a bit of coverage of the Michelle Obama "vacation" in Spain this week. Some of the comments revolve around the concept presented by Marie Antoinette, of lavish living while the working people are having a hard time making ends meet.
There seems to be a real disconnect between the Obamas and reality for the average American. Most are struggling with fewer available jobs (we lost another 131,000 last month and May/June was 91,000 less than reported), or even keeping the job they had. Times are certainly getting better with the economic recovery we're supposed to be in. In fact, it appears to me the recovery is a figment of someone's imagination!
We have an incompetent administration, from the top down, and their bungling has cost America dearly. To make matters worse, we have Republicans voting with these incompetents on every available occasion. That may explain the reason for their 11% approval poll rating.
Elections are less than 3 months away and hopefully much of the damage can be averted by a change in personnel. There are some who have maintained a consistent appreciation of the Constitution and its dominant position in American politics (Louie Ghomert R-TX is a good example). They are who we need to be retained in the next election cycle. There are many who are demonstrably detriments to our survival as a free nation. They are the ones needing to be in the unemployment lines, looking for a new job.
There seems to be a real disconnect between the Obamas and reality for the average American. Most are struggling with fewer available jobs (we lost another 131,000 last month and May/June was 91,000 less than reported), or even keeping the job they had. Times are certainly getting better with the economic recovery we're supposed to be in. In fact, it appears to me the recovery is a figment of someone's imagination!
We have an incompetent administration, from the top down, and their bungling has cost America dearly. To make matters worse, we have Republicans voting with these incompetents on every available occasion. That may explain the reason for their 11% approval poll rating.
Elections are less than 3 months away and hopefully much of the damage can be averted by a change in personnel. There are some who have maintained a consistent appreciation of the Constitution and its dominant position in American politics (Louie Ghomert R-TX is a good example). They are who we need to be retained in the next election cycle. There are many who are demonstrably detriments to our survival as a free nation. They are the ones needing to be in the unemployment lines, looking for a new job.
Monday, August 2, 2010
Some changes aren't an improvement
Once upon a time, the SAAMI (Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute) pressure standard for the old .30-30 was 38,000 cup (copper units of pressure). That’s according to Speer #10, page 214. That amounts to 7,000-8,000 cup less than the .357 Mag, by the old SAAMI pressure standards (some say as much as 46,000 cup being the max). Since the piezo transducer method of measuring pressure does have a 3% error and the copper crusher has a 5% error, it still doesn’t add up to the current specifications!
The current SAAMI standard is 42,000 psi for the .30-30, however, the current standard for the .357 Mag is 35,000 psi. What I’m trying to figure out is how the psi pressure goes up by 4000 for the .30-30 and goes down 11,000 for the .357 Mag, when both are compared to cup units of pressure?
Some seem to think there’s some sort of voodoo that is in effect with hand gun cartridges, that makes them behave different than rifle cartridges. Voodoo aside, pressure is still pressure, especially if it’s derived by using the same method.
If the copper crusher method had been thoroughly discredited, there wouldn’t still be a reference of 38,000 cup in Speer #13, page 263 for the .30-30. So, it can only be concluded that copper crusher pressures are still within the standards allowed by SAAMI. That also means the .357 Mag is a higher pressure cartridge than the .30-30 when measured by copper crusher, and there’s no getting around that fact. It’s also a fact that more pressure can’t be less pressure, regardless of the logic being used and/or the higher degree of accuracy afforded by using a piezo transducer.
The copper crusher method was the dominant standard until sometime later than 1975. If the general run of loads in pre-1975 publications is higher than what we see now, that should be ample indication of things being downloaded despite the protestations of SAAMI and their minions.
A look at the 1971 Sierra Reloading Manual, page 205, shows a 125 gr bullet in .357 Mag using 19.0 gr of Hercules 2400 and a CCI 500 primer for 1500 fps. For some reason this is showing up as a suspect image site, but the site is mine, so try this link instead http://www.bbhfarm.com/albums/album16/aab.sized.jpg
A similar bullet in Speer #13, page 528 says (the Alliant website duplicates this data) 17.5 gr produces 1409 fps using a CCI 500 primer.
Reloader's Guide Alliant Powder Reload Recipes
Pistols and Revolvers
357 Magnum * 125 gr Speer GDHP
Minimum OAL (inches) Bbl Length Primer Powder Charge Weight(grains)
Velocity
(fps)
1.58 10 CCI 500 Unique 9.6 1,343
1.58 10 CCI 500 Power Pistol 10.5 1,345
1.58 10 CCI 500 2400 17.5 1,409
Speer #8, from 1970, page 371 says 19.5 gr of 2400 with a CCI 550 produces 1514 fps using the same bullet as Speer #13. For some reason this is showing up as a suspect image site, but the site is mine, so try this link instead http://www.bbhfarm.com/albums/album10/aap.sized.jpg
That’s two copper crusher loads using 19.0-19.5 gr of 2400 with one piezo transducer load at 17.0 gr, so there’s a minimum reduction of 2.0 gr, or roughly 10%, using the same canister powder.
So, let’s look at another powder, Unique, using those same 125 gr bullets. Speer #13 says 9.6 gr with a CCI 500 at 1343 fps. Sierra says 10.0 gr at 1500 fps with a CCI 550 and Speer #8 says 10.5 gr with a CCI 500 at 1545 fps. Again, the later publication uses less powder than the earlier publications.
Further comparisons are difficult due to the powders being reported on having changed over the years, not in composition, but with common powders in the 1970s being out of production now, i.e. Alcan powders.
There are two conclusions for the reductions in powder weights, either the data from days gone by were dangerous due to incompetence on the part of the testers, or the standards have changed to a lower actual pressure.
My experience with Speer #8 loads indicate real world velocities that pretty well agree with what they got in 1970, not what they report now.
The current SAAMI standard is 42,000 psi for the .30-30, however, the current standard for the .357 Mag is 35,000 psi. What I’m trying to figure out is how the psi pressure goes up by 4000 for the .30-30 and goes down 11,000 for the .357 Mag, when both are compared to cup units of pressure?
Some seem to think there’s some sort of voodoo that is in effect with hand gun cartridges, that makes them behave different than rifle cartridges. Voodoo aside, pressure is still pressure, especially if it’s derived by using the same method.
If the copper crusher method had been thoroughly discredited, there wouldn’t still be a reference of 38,000 cup in Speer #13, page 263 for the .30-30. So, it can only be concluded that copper crusher pressures are still within the standards allowed by SAAMI. That also means the .357 Mag is a higher pressure cartridge than the .30-30 when measured by copper crusher, and there’s no getting around that fact. It’s also a fact that more pressure can’t be less pressure, regardless of the logic being used and/or the higher degree of accuracy afforded by using a piezo transducer.
The copper crusher method was the dominant standard until sometime later than 1975. If the general run of loads in pre-1975 publications is higher than what we see now, that should be ample indication of things being downloaded despite the protestations of SAAMI and their minions.
A look at the 1971 Sierra Reloading Manual, page 205, shows a 125 gr bullet in .357 Mag using 19.0 gr of Hercules 2400 and a CCI 500 primer for 1500 fps. For some reason this is showing up as a suspect image site, but the site is mine, so try this link instead http://www.bbhfarm.com/albums/album16/aab.sized.jpg
A similar bullet in Speer #13, page 528 says (the Alliant website duplicates this data) 17.5 gr produces 1409 fps using a CCI 500 primer.
Reloader's Guide Alliant Powder Reload Recipes
Pistols and Revolvers
357 Magnum * 125 gr Speer GDHP
Minimum OAL (inches) Bbl Length Primer Powder Charge Weight(grains)
Velocity
(fps)
1.58 10 CCI 500 Unique 9.6 1,343
1.58 10 CCI 500 Power Pistol 10.5 1,345
1.58 10 CCI 500 2400 17.5 1,409
Speer #8, from 1970, page 371 says 19.5 gr of 2400 with a CCI 550 produces 1514 fps using the same bullet as Speer #13. For some reason this is showing up as a suspect image site, but the site is mine, so try this link instead http://www.bbhfarm.com/albums/album10/aap.sized.jpg
That’s two copper crusher loads using 19.0-19.5 gr of 2400 with one piezo transducer load at 17.0 gr, so there’s a minimum reduction of 2.0 gr, or roughly 10%, using the same canister powder.
So, let’s look at another powder, Unique, using those same 125 gr bullets. Speer #13 says 9.6 gr with a CCI 500 at 1343 fps. Sierra says 10.0 gr at 1500 fps with a CCI 550 and Speer #8 says 10.5 gr with a CCI 500 at 1545 fps. Again, the later publication uses less powder than the earlier publications.
Further comparisons are difficult due to the powders being reported on having changed over the years, not in composition, but with common powders in the 1970s being out of production now, i.e. Alcan powders.
There are two conclusions for the reductions in powder weights, either the data from days gone by were dangerous due to incompetence on the part of the testers, or the standards have changed to a lower actual pressure.
My experience with Speer #8 loads indicate real world velocities that pretty well agree with what they got in 1970, not what they report now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
