top-quark.blog
"Hired Guns"
Really interesting and objective article on civilian "contractors" in Iraq. I've known about the Dyncorp guys for a while, but I've never read an account of what actually goes on. It's pretty fascinating; The benefits of mercenary work, but under the aegis of a national government. Self-direction and somewhat limited accountability. Sounds like my idea of a job.
Getting shot or blown up, though, isn't my cup of tea. But it certainly is exciting tea!
Bang.
Tue, 03/23/2004, 03:45Saturday at the gun show was unproductive as usual. I must be getting on in my years, because nobody asks me how old I am at the handgun tables. I've been shopping for a replacement to the Glock 22c, and there are a *buttload* of choices on the market today. The selections available are really international, covering all sorts of price and quality ranges. I'm looking for a quality piece in 9mm. At one point I would have been a tightwad college kid, but I'm not rich enough to afford cheap things...
Switzerland makes all kinds of precision stuff. Watches, clocks, Swiss Miss hot chocolate yummmmm.. and SIGARMS! Sigs have been an interest of mine for a long time; they're a status symbol, and priced that way. I'd actually convinced myself that I *needed* a Sig P239 as a carry piece (I'd never fired one). Picking one up in a more objective mindset really changed my opinion, though. Ergonomics need work!! P239s are fat and sassy, in an uncomfortable midsize Glock sort of way. I could feel my tendons crunching about just picking it up. I'm back to my old assertion of the P226 being a nice piece. Everything else Sig is a brick. Overengineered bricks, even.
Zee Ahs-chreeans! Glock's always an oldie/goody, but who doesn't know that? Light rail (important!), reliability, reliability, and *UNDYING RELIABILITY WORTHY OF A ZOMBIE MOVIE*. Fullsize only for me, though. The midis and minis are really uncomfortable. I'm rather fond of the original G17. It's not new, expensive, or particularily anything but reliable. It's just basic, and damn that's good. Gordon Freeman uses one, so it's gotta be good.
I can't figure out anything to say about the Czechs. Oh well, I really like CZ! I recently got a bit of range time with a CZ75 on a recent trip to Lefthand Canyon with a friend. They're pretty darn ergonomic , accurate, and *almost* too heavy. Very solid, though, and well-priced. Only downside is funky european styling, but this is a damn gun. I think a CZ75 is my prime choice for when I turn 21. Concealed carrying this thing's gonna be a b*tch, though. I'm imagining shuffling around with my waistband hanging about somewhere mid-shin. Oh well, I can get the authentic "streets" look!
Lastly.. the 1911s. Big sigh here. I've liked the design, but can't stand the.. zealots?.. evangelists? more like luddites... This is the crowd insisting it's the best thing since sliced toast, and that anything made in the last nine decades is crap. 1911 creeps scream reliability, but it's almost a joke that the first thing to do is polish feedramps. The 1911 was designed for another era, with FMJ rounds. I'm a civilian, and hollowpoint reliability is key.
I shouldn't bash, though. I think it's good, but there are nicer choices a century later. I've mentally crossed the 1911 off my list for a long time just to avoid association with these folks, but... picking a 1911 up is a nice feeling. It's growing on me, actually. Heavy, but not overly so. The grip profile's thinner than my mental impression; still thick enough. They're all pretty substantial pieces; very nice that you could give someone a pretty good smack if it came down to it. Buggers are pricey, though. The garish trash is the most expensive, but practical pieces are somewhat affordable ($800 range). Basic + nightsights. 1911 talk is idle banter, though; I'm too poor to shoot .45 often.
I left pretty much empty handed, except for a case of 62 grain 5.56mm JSC Barnaul ammo for my AR-15. I've heard this stuff is nice and hot, and pretty accurate too. About the same price as Wolf, so I figure there's no reason I shouldn't try it. I'll have a report up when I test it.
Ret zher be Right!
Tue, 03/16/2004, 21:15
A lifetime's yearning has now come to an end! I managed to score a pretty darn good deal on a Surefire flashlight, using funds from a game I won.
For those not in the know, Surefire is the maker of premium flashlights used by military types. While the majority of their line is still multihundred dollar metal body lights, they're now coming out with a more affordable series of impact-resistant plastic-body lights. The little gem I picked up is a Surefire G2. Though I got a pretty hefty discount on it, they do usually run about $30 from any number of online retailers.
Now you might be laughing that anyone would spend $30 on a flashlight. Normally you'd have a point. But these are friggen Surefires... Besides construction, which is quite nice, there is one thing about these lights that stands out. These are friggen' bright, sizewize, and on an absolute scale. It's hard to imagine, but something about the size of a Minimag puts out more light than the famous Maglite D-cell "Police Brutality Specials". One of the secrets is that they use Lithium CR123A batteries. The y're expensive, at a buck-a-pop, but it's not that terrible. The G2 goes through a pair in an hour. $2 an hour for some really intense, dependable light is actually a great deal, if you're in a bind. Plus, unlike other battery chemistries, Lithium batteries retain a charge for ten years.
You actually have to be careful with this thing; if you're not careful, you can blind yourself for a few seconds. It's actually an advertising point for Surefire; that these lights are bright enough to temporarily blind/stun people in the dark. This of course appeals to me. You can probably tell from the tape switch and mount that this sucker's going on my rifle. For a defensive use light, the temporary stun effect gives a few extra seconds to shoot or scoot. The glare from the light also makes it extremely hard for your opponent to aim back. It's not quite the same, but you can observe the same effect in Tom Clancy's Raven Shield computer game. It's very effective.
I'll have pics of it mounted to the rifle this weekend, when I come home for spring break.
...if I can survive this week!