Author: oddball

Even though Woot has a rule about not posting deals on actual firearms* (fortunately, we have places like SlickGuns for that), they don’t seem to have any issue with advertising or even selling gun accessories.

Today’s deal on sport.woot.com is a S&W Micro 90 for $37.99 + $5 shipping.  I haven’t really done any research into this item, so I don’t know how good it is.  Woot (and Amazon) claims that MSRP is right at $100, so I’m guessing it’s better than the stuff you normally see for $40 that quickly falls app art.  I might get one just to support them offering such things.  Remember, Woot changes what they offer daily, so if you want one, I’d go ahead and get it.

*They used to, but enough folks got their panties in a twist that they were selling those evil, horrible things that they decided to change their policy.

That’s a common argument from my mother about me carrying a firearm.  She and my dad worked hard to bring me up in a good neighborhood and send me to a good private school.  I now live in a neighborhood that, while not quite as good as the area I grew up in was/is, is not exactly a war zone either.

That neighborhood that I grew up in?  Where the upper middle class live and all is well?  Well, there was a shooting at medical office there this morning.  In fact, it was just down the street from where my grandparent’s business was.  The article says that the cops have a suspect and think the victim was specifically targeted, but…

After watching Wizard at his first IDPA match, I decided to give it a go this month.  I pretty much went with his initial goals in mind (don’t shoot yourself, don’t shoot anyone else, don’t get DQ’d, don’t come in last).   Well, the “don’t come in last” part was more of a “it would be really nice if, but I’m not going to kid myself” kind of thing.  Oh, and avoid procedural deductions.  The better shot placement and moving/getting set up in a hurry are hard things to work on, but I’m an adult and should be able to follow directions.

I took the Px4 along so that I could shoot in the same class as Wizard with his Glock.  My XDm is a true SA pistol, and therefor in a different category, and I still haven’t obtain the extra mags required for my Bersa.  Conveniently, I was at the range Saturday morning with Naienko’s father and got some last minute trigger time with the Px4, which was a good thing.

I have to admit, I was slow at just about everything.  This was partially intentional since I had little clue what I was doing.  I wish I could say that this meant that I was dead on target with all my shots, and that I didn’t hit any non-targets, but I’d be a liar.  I’m definitely going to need more practice, but what else is new.

I did have two malfunctions while running the stages.  The first one (on the first shot of the first stage, no less) was purely operator error.  I failed to disengage the safety when I reholstered the gun after “make ready.”  You guessed it.  Timer went off, I unholstered, aimed, and nothing… not even a click.  After a second or so I realized what had happened, cursed myself, flipped the switch and went on.

The second one actually saved me from what would have been my only procedural of the day.  I was supposed to shoot two targets twice in sequence (hit one once, then the other at least once).  I shot the first one, then tried to shoot it again when I had a failure to feed.  I think I didn’t slap the magazine in all the way, since the round wasn’t even stripped out of the mag.  In the time it takes me to do a tap and rack, I hear someone yelling “right!” (I had shot the left target).  I quickly engaged the correct target and went on.

Oddly enough, the two stages where I had mechanical or operator problems were the two that I did best compared to everyone else.  Not sure what that means.

Obviously, I failed to put any extra holes in anyone (including myself), and I also failed to get DQ’d (although, one of the regulars did for turning the wrong way).  Oh, and the not coming in last?  I actually beat somebody!  Go me!  I was second to last!  Third to last if you include the guy that got DQ’d!

So, I went to the range with my TKD instructor and her partner yesterday so that she could get some recoil therapy.  Among other things, I took that Browning Buck Mark I bought last week.  They brought a Mossberg 500 that the instructor bought for home defense, a couple Glocks, a couple S&W airlight .38 snubbies, an AR-7, a pimped out Ruger 10/22, and a Marlin Papoose.  Fun was had by all, and I think we killed a good bit of stress.  Everything worked great, even the Bersa 9 that was giving extractor issues on its first trip to the range.

Then, at the end, it happened.  That Buck Mark that I just bought and felt so good in my hands?  Yeah, it had a truly bizarre malfunction.  Well… um… it turned into a stainless steel Marlin Papoose.  Here’s some pics of the aftermath:

Actually, it’s not that bizarre for me.  My last .22 pistol turned into a WASR.

Turns out my instructor had been desperate enough in her search for a Papoose, that she bid on 3 different guns on an auction site… and won all three auctions.  When we sat down for lunch after the range session, she offered to trade me the stainless steel one plus $100 for the Buck Mark.  Knowing that she kept coming back to the Buck Mark and practically drooling on it, I agreed.

The Papoose is a neat little rifle.  I’m surprised how accurate it can be considering that the barrel unscrews, and there’s still enough for-stock for me to have decent purchase with my support hand.  One thing that I like about it over the AR-7 or the new 10/22 take down is that it has the ability to lock the bolt open.  Also, since Marlin decided long ago to make one magazine for all their .22s, I can use the mags that I have for my 795.  I will say that the sights on the Papoose are a heck of a lot better than the other Marlin .22s I’ve owned or shot.  The front post is a bright orange plastic and has a protective hood, and I believe the rear notch is more prominent.  Which is good, since a scope mounted on the receiver may not keep center as you remove and re-attach the barrel.

Of course, now I still don’t have a .22 pistol.  Ah well, guess that means that I’ll have to go to more gun shows (the horror!).

Erin has something that is probably not safe for your sanity.