Oh Shoot

  Periodically lagging for up to 30 sec or so for moi....

  I think he meant parts only by the statement.   IMO (and most others), a Mini is likely to run longer dirty than the average direct impingement AR. It's also less finicky about ammo than many ARs.   Reliability is its strong suit.   About the only gotcha I know of with the Mini is that put up dirty, the operating slide can stick to the gas piston nub over time. Solution is to store it dirty with bolt open. Or give it the Garand stomp if it sticks.   - OS   edit: ah, I see Mike and I were talking at same time, sorry for putting words in his mouth. (I didn't get the "new post" notice while I was typing).   Mike, I don't think the damp weather has anything to do with it, just the crud around piston itself? Never heard the "damp" claim before.

  Looks like you may have clicked on vid and gotten "embed" code, which would seem to make sense, but don't do that.   Use straight link from browser address bar that has the "watch" in the URL, with no /embed/ in the URL. Or if whatever gets you to that URL, right click on vid and use "copy video URL"   Here's your same vid, you can compare URLs between yours and mine:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vQMwpbSjC1A&feature=player_embedded   - OS

  All length ARs are plenty loud enough to damage hearing without ear protection, especially in a closed space.   Min-14 is fine rifle, but  just as loud as any AR of same barrel length.   - OS

  OIC, mea culpa.   I'm thinking that there are so many things being proposed for action right now, the downside is that it won't be a big enough showing to do more than suggest a "lunatic fringe".   - OS

  12 clams on the Thermolds is still 2.5x gouge or more.  Not like they're all eaten up with benevolence or anything, just saying.   - OS

  A third of TN is in EST, including yourself.   - OS

  Yes, if perp is still conscious after a shot, don't necessarily expect him to respond to verbal commands. Might not hear your own voice either.   - OS

  Certainly not with standard commercial powder loads, hence the nifty flame thrower effect.   Try not to be defensive position close to flammable items, eh?   - OS

  Ah, the arcane clue. Thnx.   - OS

  Thanks for the post ...   I guess the letter I saw posted with suspension was for a second offense or something, sorry for inaccurate info...   - OS

I didn't understand how so many of the auctions got past the auto listing filters.   You can fudge by listing them in a deceptive way, but many plainly showed "30 round magazine" and similar in main title.   Apparently (from reading emails posted on other forums) as they caught up and started nuking them manually, first offense was a three day ban with all listings ended, second was more severe, and third was permanent ban with PayPal nuked also.   - OS

Does it rhyme in German or something?   - OS

  There's a push to change Senate rules in the new session so that filibuster will require actual floor time, just like the old days, so no more "procedural filibuster".   Ever see Mr. Smith Goes to Washington? Like that.   - OS

Has Wally changed from the "Winchester" branded one?   Whatever it is, if it says it's for sling swivel base, it should work okay.   The only other type I know of fits directly on a rail. There are some that come with adapters to fit both ways.   - OS

  I'll say again, this just isn't necessarily true. The new Senate will be 53/45/2 DEM/GOP/IND   The Dems will be miles from lock step on the original bill. Remember, firearm owners are no more than 60/40 Dem/Rep by party affiliation. Gun rights is nowhere near a clear cut partisan issue as some others.   There will any number of Dems who simply could not afford to go with an all out ban on anything; all depends on their constituency. The polling companies will make a lot of money telling our senators what their convictions are.   If any thing sails through the Senate, it will be well watered down from the original bill, and all the ayes will have to be assured they'll have a soft landing in the next couple of election cycles if they vote for it.   - OS

  I'd not assume the Dems will be in lock step in either chamber. Depending on their various constituencies, it could cost some of them, just like in '94.   Unlike some issues, firearm owners are actually no more than about a 60/40 split in political affiliation from polls I've seen mentioned.   You can be sure that private polling companies will make some good bucks supplying plenty of detailed data on all the issues before the pols can then you know, vote their conscience. :)   If some gun bill sails through both chambers,  it will be because it's a shadow of what was first proposed, and a predicted soft landing for the ayes in the next two election years.   - OS

  Nonetheless, it's a sop the House would give if they decide that most of their individual political winds would either stay same or even blow a bit fairer. Will depend on how red each constituency is and whatnot, will largely be determined by private polling. It's the lowest hanging fruit:   - most polls show that even the majority of NRA membership agrees and overwhelming support nationwide - doesn't deny intrastate commerce, doesn't ban anything, doesn't add any prohibitions to ownership than already exist - it's already enacted either partially or totally in 15 states with no successful constitutional challenges.   - OS

  Agree, but a national registry will probably be attached for enforcement, and that's gonna have to be a line in the sand.   - OS

...     Yeah, most everybody says they want fewer laws, except for all the ones they think will benefit themselves, of course.   Flaming liberals take it a step farther though, they want laws that will benefit "the planet", or the "the poor" etc. Even though they have little to do with that yucky dirty outdoors or the icky great unwashed.   - OS

  Well, people like you and me want fewer laws, but ....   And there's something else about "close votes" in either house. Once a party realizes it has the votes to pass something, many within that party are "allowed" to vote against it if doing so is perceived to help them in their electorate, as long as the thing gets passed period.    It's actually pretty rare that very many are required to "take one for the team" and vote party line if it puts them in serious jeopardy back home. The Dems really miscalculated the backlash in '94. But polling wasn't nearly as sophisticated and reliable 18 years ago either, so they'll have better fingers on pulses this time around.   - OS

  Just no way to know right now. The parties, electorate, hell the whole country is so vastly different from 1994 I barely recognize it.   The only thing that's consistent is that job security remains the number one priority with most of these clowns.   - OS

  I'm not convinced it's going to be a cakewalk in the Senate.   No way all the Dems there are going to be in lock step on sweeping gun legislation. Finger on the pulses of their various constituencies is pretty complicated, but the bloodbath of the midterm elections of 1994 will not be totally lost on them. Suffice it to say there will be lots of private polling going on.   - OS

bad link, upper case on the last part: http://www.harrisbipods.com/HB5.html Why you "had" to purchase the Harris specifically aside, any bipod that attaches to a swing swivel stud will work, like the ones at Wally's, whatever. If you mean height to clear a 30 round mag with butt sitting on a level surface rather than in your hand, depends on thickness of fore arm, and rail, or however that adapter is attached, type of butt stock,etc, but you'll need 10-11" from bottom of barrel to bottom of bipod feet, measured vertically, not along 45 degree of the legs themselves. Of course, most all bipods telescope some, so you can lengthen legs (although it makes them more unstable). And it doesn't matter once you've shouldered the gun, all kinds of clearance with any then, and can always stick something under the butt in between shooting to raise it a bit. And lastly, if you use 20 round mag while bench shooting, about any arrangement will clear when you set butt down. - OS

    I enjoyed the weekend too, Mark.   Damn, next show is at Chilhowee again, end of Jan. That's first time they haven't alternated in a long time.   Gotta getcha to Scruggs, you'll love it. Or leave quickly looking over your shoulder. Probably one or the other. :)   - OS