Month: September 2010

Good health is self-defense

/ hsoi

When people talk about self-defense, typically they think of defending themselves from an attack. They might think about martial arts, or guns or awareness and avoidence strategies. If someone then cares further about self-defense, they’ll start to study these areas in preparation for an event that hopefully will never happen, but if it does you want to be prepared for it may mean your life.

However, did you ever consider more mundane things that threaten your life and daily well-being?

How about your general good health? Can you touch your toes? Can you walk a flight of stairs and not get winded? How much flab are you carrying around on your frame? Heart happy? Does the doctor give you a clean bill at your annual physical?

How about falls? More people die each year from falls than gunfire. Do you know how to fall correctly? This was a great thing I learned in my martial arts study is how to fall correctly so as to minimize injury.

These things are also self-defense. Defending yourself against pain and injury, against medical bills, and the effects of aging.

Rocky Patel Sungrown

/ hsoi

In the batch of cigars W brought to me, another one was a Rocky Patel Sungrown. I believe a Toro, based on the size and shape.

I used to always prefer smoking cigars this size, but I realize that it’s a little too big for me… just more than I typically care to smoke in one sitting. That said, I’d like to compare a Sungrown in this Toro size to say one in a Petite Corona or Robusto to see how it compares out. I’m no cigar aficionado, but I’d reason that size would affect the experience to some degree.

Anyways, how was it?

A bit of a “harsh” start, very spicy and peppery. Kinda enjoyable, but a little rougher on the mouthfeel than I like. But after going through the first quarter, the cigar really mellowed out. Still spicy, but not as peppery. Very full-body with a lot of nice thick smoke. Blowing rings, not a problem. Burned well too, pretty even, didn’t have to fight to keep it going. I probably finished two-thirds of the cigar, stopping only because I need to come inside and get to some other business.

I’ll say it’s a good cigar, I liked the thickness of the smoke, I liked the body, but I am finding I prefer smoother and less spicy stuff. I didn’t really enjoy the first bit of the cigar, but as it mellowed I enjoyed it more and more. A reasonably enjoyable experience. I wouldn’t be opposed to smoking another (good thing, as I have another), but in terms of preference? Probably not what I’d go to first off. BUT, that’s just my own palette and preference.

Ted Nugent – on hunting

/ hsoi

Ted Nugent was interviewed on “Deer & Deer Hunting TV“. (h/t blabbermouth)

Ted, never one to politically correct, speaks his mind on issues like hunting ethics:

Silly regulations and laws. I have to admit, I’m kinda with Ted about issues of baiting.

Fred Bear, sacred cows, public relations.

The pursuit of happiness

Hunting advocacy

My happy shoulder.

/ hsoi

When I went to the store to buy the shells for the dove hunt, on a whim I picked up a LimbSaver slip-on recoil pad.

Man, what a difference!

Right now the Mossberg 500 has the factory pad on it. I left the factory pad on and slipped the LimbSaver over it. That added an inch to the length-of-pull, and for big tall me, that in and of itself make a welcome difference. I opted to leave it that way, instead of removing the factory pad and using only the LimbSaver.

Of course, the testimony is in the shooting, and what a difference. I barely noticed the recoil. They claim it reduces muzzle jump, so that coupled with the porting on the 500’s field barrel… I can’t say I recall ever seeing the bead moving after I pulled the trigger.

I will say, the “rubber” of the LimbSaver is a little tacky, which is nice to keep the gun in place on your shoulder, but sometimes it drags on clothing as you’re moving into position. Minor issue. And of course, being a slip-on, it moves around some, but I only noticed it after the fact.

Generally impulse buys are a waste of money, but this one turned out alright. 🙂

My First Dove Hunt

/ hsoi / 3 Comments

Finally got to go dove hunting.

I’ve known G for many years through Scouts and church. He’s an avid hunter and has been working on me for some time to go dove hunting with him. Finally it was able to happen.

He hunts at this property just outside of the city limits, which turns out to be close to my house. I met the property owner tonight and turns out he too goes to the same church. Neat. He owns a few acres and the doves love to fly through there. So we can sit back, relax, and when the doves fly overhead, off we go.

Unfortunately, the doves were very slow tonight, and when they did fly they were flying very high. Still, I went through about 40 shells, and managed to bag my first dove. 🙂 For sure I got one, I believe I got a second. In total we were able to take home 7 doves, and probably shot 9-10 (2-3 were unable to be recovered, tho we tried). G’s a fantastic shot.

Despite it being slow, it’s not always about bagging something. Sometimes it’s just great to get outside, hang out with friends — make new friends. If we can shoot a little, have a beer, and bag something, all the better.

The cool thing? They let me take home all of the doves. We field dressed them all and G taught me how to do it. Dang, that’s easy and takes very little time. Was also neat to see what the doves had been eating. Most had been eating seed: millet and sunflower. One had corn, another certainly had been eating something in the field. All of the meat is in the fridge, and I know what I’ll be having for lunch tomorrow. 🙂

Fantastic time. Looking forward to doing it again!

Bill Rogers on one-handed reloads

/ hsoi

Bill Rogers, of the Rogers Shooting School, on one-handed reloads.

  • First things first, get behind cover/concealment (or at least, move off the line of fire).
  • Press the mag release button and give the gun a sharp downward movement to help the mag fully drop or at least get it to unlock/unseat. I’ve seen Glock mags only come out by being pulled, so my assumption is if the mag doesn’t drop free, leave it at least unlocked and move to the next phase.
  • Place the gun between your thighs, using your thighs as a vice to hold the gun while you manipulate it. Knees will have a slight bend (i.e. like a shallow squat). Barrel/slide runs parallel to the thighs, muzzle pointed down (towards knees), mag well pointed up and out. I figure if the magazine is still in, now is the time to remove it. Once empty, draw your spare mag and seat it all the way.
  • Take a shooting grip on the gun, and while still gripped between your thighs press the gun forward (releasing the slide lock), then release your thighs so the slide goes forward.

While we’re working hard to get our gun back in the fight as quickly as possible, don’t be too quick about it. Often we’ll be rushing to get back on target and our first shot will be off target. Don’t waste time on the reload, but don’t rush so much that you miss the shot.

One subtle point of order. Notice how he gets the gun back in action from slide lock: move the slide all the way back, then release. There is no pressing the thumb on the slide lock — that tab is there to lock the slide back, not to release the slide. While the physical motion here is different from how you should generally release the slide (taking that U horseshoe grip over the top of the back of the slide, pulling the slide all the way back, then let go), the theory and purpose is the same. One motion that always works for all situations. Even if you’re put into a different situation (e.g. lost use of one hand), your brain still will think along the same lines as for how to solve the problem.

2011 Star Stryker

/ hsoi

Just received an email from Star Motorcycles announcing the release of the 2011 Star Stryker.

Wow. I gotta hand it to Yamaha. They’re really working to evolve their line of cruiser motorcycles. So we start with all the technology that went into the Roadliner/Stratoliner series (the frame, the exhaust system). That begat the Raider, which was basically a ‘Liner but with custom chopper styling out of a major-factory bike. At the same time, the V Star 1300 came along to take over the aging 1100 series, providing classic cruiser/tourer styling in a mid-line bike (and also, water-cooling). So now the Raider and the 1300 get together and form the Stryker: the frame and exhaust and styling from the Raider, the engine from the 1300.

So now you can get custom chopper-like styling, with a good engine (hey, 1300 is still pretty damn good), good handling and road performance… and a mid-level price.

Star Motorcycles is really evolving their product line and I think putting out some of the better cruiser-style bikes. But hey.. I’m biased. I own a 2006 V Star 1100 Classic. 😉

If I was in the market for a new bike, I’d be buying a Stratoliner Deluxe. But I gotta say, Mama-Yama is working their product line well.