I received a very thoughtful note of encouragement from someone in the mail a couple weeks ago ( you know who you are, person in AZ), and a few people have, as of late, stepped up to chip in a few bucks towards keeping the lights on and the brain droppings flowing. Figured I should recognize their generosity… so, here ya go. Mucho thanks! ( I should also mention that while many people prefer to be anonymous in this sort of thing, the ones who do send me things in the mail and use their real return address wind up getting on the Paratus card list.)
The local CostCo is selling Boyt hard cases at a decent enough price that I might have to pick one (or five) up. Not as good as a Pelican case, IMHO, but nothing really is. However, for just organizing some of these guns that are laying all over the place here it should do nicely. I do need to find a smoking deal on Pelican 1750’s though.
A loaned out copy of “One Second After” was returned to me the other day. It’s a good book, in terms of story, although a little heavy-handed at times. But it seems far more gritty and realistic than similar works. Two thing I really didn’t like was the obligatory armed-townies-versus-cannibal-army climax which seems to be a requirement for any post-apocalypse book, and I felt like the depths of starvation and it’s attendant issues were happening sooner than I think they would in real life. Nonetheless, it was a good read and certainly a bit motivating.
Independence Day is this weekend and, like Patriots Day, it is properly celebrated by including the handling of arms and the usage of same. Folks who fought and sacrificed in the Revolutionary War would expect no less of you. But…don’t shoot off all your ammo. We do, after all, seem to have a cold civil war a-brewing.
It’s pretty telling that it takes a global pandemic, economic upheaval, and race rioting to make Joe Biden look like a contender for President. Once again, this is going to be ‘the most important election of our generation’….as we are reminded Every. Single. Election.
It’s a heck of a time to try to stock up on guns and mags against the election, what with the ‘Corona Tax’ making guns more expensive than they were this time last year, but if you’ve been so remarkably short-sighted as to not have your thundertoys purchased by now….well…you kinda deserve this.
We’re not in the “good old days” anymore, are we? Best outcome I’m hoping for is a decisive ‘win’ by President Tweet, followed by the legions of new gun owners divesting to the secondary market.
If that happens, we may see some truly smokin’ deals about this time next year.
I’m right there with you Tim, all in for the win.
Have a great Independence Day
We’re running an Appleseed class this weekend, don’t do it normally because of the holiday, but felted is needed this year. We have a full line of people who want to improve their marksmanship, and hear a little history of the real people of the Revolution.
So yes, I agree, April, 19th, and July, 4th, should be spent at the range, rather then at the beach or in the backyard grilling.
For just hauling boom sticks to and from the range, or maybe for storing?
I picked up a few of these.
https://go.harborfreight.com/coupons/2020/03/64520-78032939/
They are not TSA approved for flying, but decent enough to keep scopes from getting bumped. A lot lighter than the 1750 too.
You might also want to think about a soft luggage golf bag for moving the rifles…
When I moved some stuff across country by car, I didn’t want anyone seeing me carrying rifle cases into the hotel. I grabbed one of the cheap soft cases, about $40, and several rifle cases fit into it.
As a bonus it has wheels, since it will be much heavier with a half dozen rifles in it than golf bag. No one looked twice when I pulled it out of the SUV and wheeled it to my room.
n
Very gray! Did you have to wear really silly clothes to pull it off?
I have a tennis racket case that I got at goodwill for $4. Holds my sawed off 870, a folding stock AK or a broken down AR. Discrete way to get in and out of motel rooms.
“if you’ve been so remarkably short-sighted as to not have your thundertoys purchased by now….well…you kinda deserve this.”
Yes, but all is not lost. Folks who came up short in the planning can still act. Paying down debt is always a good idea. Put some cash away now and wait. While watching prices for what you need, put more cash away. Then put more cash away.
Went to the LGS that has an indoor rifle range to test/break in a new AR build and was surprised to see that shooters were allowed to buy ONE box of ammo at the counter. Hard to get that 200 rd break in that way so I excused myself, went over the the local “ammo warehouse” and did get the 5.56 I wanted (“Your in luck! That came in this morning!”), but the 9mm was gone. (There was some 124gr +P Buffalo Bore… but that is a bit pricey for range fodder) Also scored some Hornady 308 Match at about .90 cents/rd, so if/when you find those deals don’t be afraid to jump on them.
Midway USA has the Pelican has the Pelican 1750 on sale for $188.96 and the Pelican Vault V800 double case for $139.96.
I lucked into a used pelican double rifle case and another very similar knock off. Honesty I’ve flown with the Pelican once and used them both for scopes rifles on a big cross country move. Mostly they take up space in the garage. I’d have ditched the second one already but plan to bury it at some point.
I can be sympathetic to young people and new gun owners. For supposed gun people who are over like 25 I just can’t feel bad. Oddly the ones who now so desperately want to stock up expect bargain prices and complete availability. That’s not how this works at all. I told a guy to suck it up and buy a case of 5.56 but he seems to prefer to go to bass pro and pay way more for a box here or there. Stupid is as stupid does.
However if they are part of my inner social network I’ll help a bit. Tossed a buddy/ neighbor a couple loaded PMAGs when it came out in a conversation he had 4 fucking mags for his rifle. Gave another dude 2
Boxes of 9mm FMJ when it came up he was black on ammo for the family handgun (which was the only gun in the house beside a shotgun). Left an ammo can full of 5.56 and .38 at my sisters house to feed bro in laws carbine and little sis’s wheelie gun. One of the benefits of being fairly well prepared is none of these things set me back in a meaningful way.
I’m not worried about this particular period being super action flick gunfight ish. However this may roll into the inevitable election gun stuff panic extending the length of said event.
Not a great deal but not a bad one either.
https://palmettostatearmory.com/federal-xm193bk-5-56-1000rd-case.html
Regards
Best time in years to Fly the Flag, celebrate our Independence from tyranny, and proclaim our God Given Human Rights loud and clear…. Plus it’ll really really really piss off the sjw…. That’s the best part……….
off topic, but does anyone know if Woodpile Report is still active ?
The guys wife died a couple months back. Maybe he’s taking a break.
thanks CZ, was aware of that tragic event. But he soldiered on after an appropriate period and the sudden absence seems unusual. Thanks for your stellar blog.
Had an ancestor starve to death in a Redcoat prison hulk in NY harbor… The others got sweet revenge at Yorktown though. Freedom isn’t free and we’re about to have to reaffirm that old creed IMO.
Happy Independence Day
Not to end on a disturbing note, but have you noticed how many 4th of July celebrations have been cancelled for the Kung Flu, only to be replaced by Black Marxists Matter rallies?
Coincidence, I’m sure…..
The conflicting social issues in this country have finally reached critical mass IMO. Buckle up, it going to be a bumpy ride…
Regards
Interesting all the posts about firearms and ammo not being available. My preferred LGS has new ARs, AKs, (even a few Tavors, FALs etc) as well as a variety of Sigs, Glocks and Walther pistols in stock. They also continue to get a good number of CZ Scorpions. Cases of ammo line the aisles as well. Their prices are “at market” as well.
My local sold out of their entire stock in one day when the lockdowns were announced and they haven’t gotten much in since. They have some consignment guns, but any ammo goes out the door same day it came in. They are doing transfers for online purchasers non-stop and can barely keep up (short staff due to restrictions and no one wanting to work retail.)
Very little in the store though.
n