Gun Porn!!!

I'm drafting this, so if it reads oddly, tough.

I got a new toy. That's it over to the right in black. It's a Socom 16, which is a 16" barrel version of an M1A. It's sitting next to Twisters M1A Scout Squad. I won this rifle in an On Line Auction just before the Memorial Day Weekend while I was still on Taji*. It came from a fine fellar in Stayton Oregon, who did a great job of working with me being over seas (he was in Vietnam). It's slightly used, rating 99%, no goodies with it other than a 10 round magazine. I got it for a good price, still it cost half as much as my truck, LOL. But I don't see vehicles as something to be prissy about, they all either wind up in the junk yard or belonging to a collector.

M1A's shoot .308 Winchester (7.62 NATO) and we thought since it has a 16" barrel it would have a great amount of bark to it. The Scout Squad does, but, the Socom doesn't, not nearly as bad as we thought. That has allot to do with the compensator, which is about 1" long and ported on the top. I did shoot it once without ear muffs and it left my left ear ringing and my right fine.

The sights have an enlarged aperture in the rear (go ahead, make your remarks) and a wider front sight post. It also has tritium in it so it shows in low light and the dark. As you may notice Twisters Scout Squad has a scope mounted forward of the action. My Socom has te capability too. I'm considering an Aimpoint 9000 red dot sight on it. I used the M68 (by Aimpoint) in Iraq and really liked it. An Eotech sets too high on it. Aimpoint is cool. Unfortunately, I've not gtten it sighted in yet, there was an issue with target lighting and the front sight post taking the width of the target itself. It was hard to aim it center. Note to self, get it sighted in so I can get a peice of glass on it. The Jolly Red Head Giant wants me to get a Trijicon...Too much money.

I fitted it with a three point sling from Specter Gear, it will work great for Bear Hunting. The rifle will hang on me, with the sling wrapped around my body allowing me to use my hands for holding onto Dogs.

I plan on changing the color, giving it a Duracoat camo job. I don't like a black gun. I'm looking at color schemes now, and the color black is not included. Your going to get to see pictures and all. This is so fun!

Camouflage is not essential for Bear Hunting (I may Deer Hunt with it too), but, it will help take care of the rifle and well...I don't like black guns.

I've also bought a Plott Hound. I'll talk about him later.

I don't mean to toy talk. I've lived hard the last few years and this is now possible. Besides, you want to b entertained. Most folks that read me don't know a great deal about this stuff and learn somehing... Gun culture, mountain people and hunters are not monsters.

*Darn they lobbed the mortars in on Memorial Day weekend.

Beauty is not skin deep, it's infinite.
The Appalachianist

Tampa?! Ed, beware...

I once had a 35lbs bob cat sneak up behind me. He now stands in my den as a full body mount. I had a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in .308, this man had his bare hands. My cat was healthy though, just wasn't sure what I was.

The Appalachianist

Troubled Ground

Before I left for Ft. McCoy I had a mess of gun and hunting stuff sitting on top of my gun safe. When my mother came in she got a plastic tub for some of it to go in. I opened it up and I think the bottle of doe in heat scent came open. I closed it real quick. I might have to sit it outside and air. It sure ain’t none of that Elizabeth Taylor stuff.

Sunday I took a ride up Davidson River* and got out and walked along it some. I saw allot of dieing hemlocks and that scares me. It wasn’t nearly as bad before I left. Back in the spring a fierce wind storm came through and blew down quite a number of trees. This has been gong on with various storms the last couple of years. I noticed something beautiful about it though. Where the trees blew down sun light is hitting the ground providing spots for new growth ad different species. That’s actually a characteristic of old growth forest. The sun has to hit the forest floor some. Appalachian Forest are out of whack, they're a little out of order. For one they aren't supposed to be choked in laurel and ivy. Some of the "virgin forest' still exists, it's just in slithers off in remote areas.

The little places where trees came down will help some with wild life. The Ruffed Grouse for one. They like young growth and borders (ie. grown over roads) mixed with the older stuff...Variety. Grouse have a high chic mortality rate. Expecting Cherokee mothers would not eat grouse or grouse eggs fearing it would cause complications. Back in the mid 90's I flushed them all the time, I don't so often any more. The males like to get up on dead logs and "drum" by beating their wings against their chest. This is supposed to attract the ladies...It will sound like a generator cranking. I about shot one off of a log once, but, he got clear by a fraction of a second.

But the hemlocks dieing leaves a deep wound. Their shading of ground and the slow dripping of rain from their limbs keeps streams cool for trout. Appalachian Forest are a concerted effort. Their unique...And in trouble.

I took this here kissing test on line (my lap top is all smeared with virtual lip stick) and this is what it had to say...

Your Kissing Technique Is: Perfect

Your kissing technique is amazing - and you know it. You have the confidence to make the first move. And you always seem to know what kissing style is going to work best. Sometimes you're passionate, sometimes you're a tease. And you're always amazing!

Are You a Good Kisser?

All of those bikini models don't know what they've been missing...

"33"
The Appalachianist

I feel alright – I feel alright tonight

After a 21 ½ hour flight over 5,864 miles the remaining part of my task force was back in to where it had departed from, Volk Field Wisconsin. I was on the first flight into theater and the last flight out. We took 360 over and all came back with every thing intact (we did have some non combat injuries). We thank God for that. The statistics for death in Iraq are light, but, the reality is, you’re going to where you won’t die, but be killed or maimed.

The first week back home has been a stormy one, both in weather and in life. I’ve heard that it’s been dry for months, then as soon as I get back rain. It’s rained every day. My personal life has had it’s storms too. Not from “dramatic effects” of the war, but, life here. I’m not the same person I was before I went to Iraq or this time last week. The earth is a far more pretty place to me now and the world that more uglier. Things are rarely what they seem.

Folks have been really nice though. From the nice folks in Bangor Maine that lined up to shake our hands when we landed in there to the man in the barber shop this morning. My phone has barely rung. I did wind up on the Channel 13 News and receive a few e-mails as well as people saying that they saw me. But, everyone has been really polite, I’ve been asked a few pointed questions, and the strongest one from my Civilian Boss, but, he’s a Vietnam Vet, so I answered him straight out. He’s been there, done that. He knows where I’m coming from.

Nothing I did was glorious or heroic. My experience was not movie material. People often thank me, but, all I did was go do my job. NO ONE has a right to be jealous of me. As all of the fakes come out looking for attention, let them have it. People love it when you’re full of shit. I went and did my job as best I could, it wasn’t pretty nor ugly, it was just my job. Nuff said.

Bosco, as I said, came right up to me. God bless her. I pulled up into my yard after dark, she walked right up to me wagging her tail and let me hug her. Other than my mother and aunt that I let meet me at the air port ( The Reguvinator was going to drop my truck off for me) that hug with Bosco set the precedence. So, I’ve hugged a dog and a Tomcatskitten, and those have meant the world to me. As I was somewhere over the North Atlantic my Grand Son was born. He’s beautiful. Today I held my finger out to him and he grabbed hold and squeezed it. His whole hand wraps around my finger. Looks allot like his daddy, has his mama’s eyes. Odd as it is to me, at not quite 39, listening to harder music than my kids (actually step kids), but, that’s how it is when you get involved with someone that started young and they start young.

So, that’s it. I’ve got things I’m working on. I’ve got a life to live.

Today your love, tomorrow the world…

The Appalachianist

(This picture was given to me by a friend from Kansas, it was from the storms that had the tornadoes this spring)

I'm Back

I'm back home. Bosco (my dog) didn't shy from me. Came right up to me, unlike last time. I ain't ready to write yet, but, I'll get to it.
The Appalachianist