Need Sinus Transplant

Sorry for the light post-Thanksgiving blogging...as usual I'm cleverly using my time off to suffer through my endless travel head cold. And, as usual, I have managed to transfer the virus to my Sweetie, who has been suffering piteously. I've spent my time reading Patrick O'Brian and studying up for my first set of interviews for GUN STORIES early next week. I had hoped to have a major announcement about GS by now, but "negotiations are still under way."

I'm also headed out to OC for a day next week to talk about changes in the gun culture and its implications for 2011, sort of an expansion of my Gun Culture Ver. 2.0 concepts. Based on preliminary sales figures from 2010 and talks with industry execs it's safe to say that self-defense/concealed carry are unequivocally the primary drivers of the market. The big trend for 2010 is the bigger than expected successes of shooting competitions on television, led by TOP SHOT on History and 3-GUN NATION on Versus. I hear channels are scrambling for more shooting programming. I think this is part and parcel of the "normalizing" of firearms ownership and use in the U.S....in short, we're winning the cultural war as well as the political and legal war. If we continue to consolidate our cultural gains and continue our successes in the legal/political arena — especially in the wake of this month's midterm elections — 2011 may well be the year the put the final nails in the coffin of the already largely irrelevant "antigun movement."

The Answer to Many Questions

Steven Ross 2007 Chorro Creek Vineyards Pinot Noir, and I don't even like Pinot! What a great wine!

Recipes? We don't need no stinkin' recipes! But if you do, 12 ounces cranberries, 1 1/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, bourbon (I used Buffalo Trace). Mix cranberries, sugar, spices and a little bit o'bourbon in a sauce pan. Bring to a boil. Keep at boil for a couple of minutes. Place mix in casserole pan and place in 350 degree preheated oven for 45 minutes. Take out of oven, add bourbon to taste (at LEAST 1/4 cup!). Chill before serving.

Don't give it to the kids...

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

On this bitterly cold morning at the Secret Hidden Bunker, I wanted to take a moment to wish all of you a wonderful Thanksgiving Day. In the wake of the tremors that have rocked our country over the last couple of years, I hope we are all first and foremost thankful for American exceptionalism, that we live in a country where dreams can be cast large and amazing futures can still be spun out of air and faith.

So have a bright and shiny Thanksgiving, one and all!

Me, I gotta go make some bourbon cranberry sauce...

A Quick Thanksgiving Reading Catch-Up...

...as opposed to "ketchup," a survival food at my Mom's Thanksgiving dinners. My Mom once gave everyone but me food poisoning with a casserole of warm mayonnaise, Velveeta and canned English peas. I fed my portion to her dog, who threw up. HAPPY THANKSGIVING DAY, one and all!

I just received a reader's copy of Steven Hunter's latest Bob the Nailer, DEAD ZERO, which should be out in a month or so:

I'll give you some "sneak peaks" as soon as I start reading!

In our "guilty pleasures" file, I spent my head cold convalescence reading my good friends (and regular DRTV contributors) Jerry and Sharon Ahern's latest novel, WRITTEN IN TIME.

Devoured it in two nights! No, it's not great literature, but it has time travel paradoxes, guns, cowboys, tanks, corsets and Teddy Roosevelt...hey, how much more can one ask?????

New Eyeball Alert

So I get the new lens in my left eye first week of January...hopefully that will be the end of a long, long haul. I got a new lens in my right eye a little over a year ago after losing most of the vision in that eye from complications of botched dental surgery. Cataracts developed in both eyes.

The cataract in my left eye couldn't be removed at that time (plus doctors are hinky about cutting on both eyes at the same time, and hey, I'm good with that!).

Has been an interesting journey for my shooting, as I've chronicled here...am looking forward to sporting clays for real! I'm okay now in good light, but in lower light I just can pick those clays up.

We'll see (I profoundly hope so! LOL!)...

NBC Video on Andrew Traver...

...Obama's choice to head the ATF, shown here misrepresented (e.g. "lying") to the media about what is and is not a dreaded "assault weapon" (courtesy The Truth About Guns blog)...you may have to suffer through a "Rahm Sleazebag for Mayor" commercial to get to the meat, but it's worth it:

The Best Gun Review Ever...

For the S&W "Double Trouble" .410 semiauto, from RealGuns.com...

Here's just a bit, but definitely read the whole thing:

We received lots of double takes at the range during our test firing session. In some ways the Double Trouble is very much a traditional 1911, in others, not so much. The three comments heard the most were, "Why the heck does it have two hammers?", "Why the heck does it have two ports?" and "Are you guys almost finished? We've been waiting for a bench for four hours?" We shot the Double Trouble with fixed sights, adjustable sights, laser sights, a scope and absolutely none of the systems resulted in sore eyes.

Shooting 500 grain gas checked cast bullets, .45 Colt accuracy was exceptional with groups consistently under an inch at three hundred yards. Fifty yard yammer jammers were easy to hit but swinging bobcats at one hundred yards suggested just a touch of dominant eye cross parallax ventilation.

I wish I'd written that...OMG, maybe I have!

Perfect Ending...

...chili rellenos at Maria's, along with a Great Legend of the 30-30 margarita. Sigh...just a perfect meal and a perfect break...if I may quote from the great Zen sage Jimmy Buffett:

"And now I must confess,
I could use some rest.
I can't run at this pace very long.
Yes, it's quite insane,
I think it hurts my brain.
But it cleans me out and then I can go on..."

Back to it on Monday...we're starting interviews for Gun Stories, and I got to sandwich SHOT Show TV in there somewhere.

And speaking of SHOT, I'm think of continuing my tradition os drinks at Gordon Biersh microbrewery saran the last day of the Show...would love to know who's going to be at SHOT and who'd like to drink on my dime!!! Seriously, I'd like to do this and invite all the readers of the Blog, the regular guys at DRTV, the gun bloggers and my friends in the industry...

What do you think???


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An Orgy of Art

Am sitting at the Cafe de Artistes on Canyon Blvd, thinking a giant pink pig would look darned good in front of the Secret Hidden Bunket


-- Post From The Road

Critical Santa Fe Food Log...

Had dinner tonight at a new place, Dinner for Two...unequivocally one of the best meals I've ever eaten (and I've eaten at the chef's table at K-Paul's in New Orleans as a guest of Paul). Incredible, and reasonably priced. The calamari slaw is breathtaking...

Lunch/brunch today was huevos rancheros at Cowgirl BBQ, the best huevos in Santa Fe hands down. Piñon coffee, of course.

Last night we ate at our old favorite The Shed...I've eaten at The Shed for more years that I care to count (I think Randy Travis sent rme there the first time), and I have had the same thing every time -- #5, blue corn enchiladas with red sauce, and a Shed Gold reposada margarita. I'm sure the other things on the menu are every bit as good, but the red sauce is sublime.

For lunch we grabbed a bowl of corn and chipotle soup at the Blue Corn Cafe and microbrewery...be advised, it's honest to goodness hot. Recommend the pilsner with the soup...

And, yes, I made a run at Lucchese...I think they are the ultimate compromise boot..quantums better than what I think of as shooting boots like Ariats or Tony Llamas, but still so much more affordable than the customs. Lucchese is making me a pair of 16-inchers, in black with fancy stitching...can't wait!


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The Littlest 1911

Looking forward to getting my hands on the new shrunken Browning 1911 .22 ( photo at The Firearm Blog). Been hearing about this one for months - sorry, I was under a non-disclose on this one! - and from what I've been able to put together, it should be the top of the heap. Have been talking to the consultants involved, and they're all top notch.

The Shed...

...in Santa Fe... God's own red chile sauce...



-- Post From The Road

Still Kicking But Light Blogging

Am on a few day's breather in Santa Fe, where I have sworn to NOT go back to Back at the Ranch to look at boots that cost more than my Honda Element, no matter what Randy Travis says! I'm going to do a little food blogging, as Santa Fe is one of the greatest food cities on earth.

Hmmmmmmmm...I didn't promise anything about Lucchese, at least nothing Eric Holder can make stick in a civilian court...of course, what could Eric Holder make stick in a civilian court? Alf the Wonder Beagle is a better lawyer -and a more ethical individual - than the least distinguished man to ever hold the position of AG (but Alf us only liscened to practice in Dog Court, in which the cases usually involve pee stains or buried bones).

And in our Michael Is A Moron files this AM, go watch the Colt 1911 video over at DRTV, then ask me what the "signature" logo bird is at Gunsite...an eagle? A parrot? A blue-breasted thud pucker. A perodactl? NO....it's a (DUH) raven!!!!! I know that...my apologies to the API list, whom I scandalized with my apparently uncontrollable tongue.

I said "breast" and "tongue" in the same post! I'll bet all the TSA gropers out there are getting all hit and bothered...

Where Old Video Cameras...

...go to die...



-- Post From The Road

All Studio, All the Time

Spent yesterday in my home studio, jumped on a plane and will spend all day today in the OC Tulsa studio. We're finishing up The Best Defense Season 3, and it's undoubtably the best ever. The scenarios are just spectacular!

Home tonite...will post some more gun stuff if I get to the airport earlier....


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What Can Be More Fun...

...on a cold, snowy Sunday than restoring software on one's iPhone? I'm going to upgrade the thing when I get the spare moments to go to the AT&T store...I'd love to do it online, but AT&T says that for "security reasons" they have to send the phone to a street address. Well, yeah, I have a street address, but no mail delivery. The hamster at AT&T Customer Service told me that was ridiculous, as everyone gets mail at their street address. I said that, in fact, I didn't, nor did any of my neighbors, but we all had a P.O. boxes in town. Sudden silence, because only AL QUAIDA has P.O. boxes.

"We can't send anything to a P.O. box," he said. Funny, I replied, you don't seem to have any trouble sending me my bill to my P.O. box. Changing gears, I suggested that he use UPS or Fed-Ex to send me my phone to the street address. "We don't do that," he said.

I was reminded that when I activated the phone at the Apple Store, we had to use the Apple Store address because AT&T refused to believe P.O. boxes exist. Then I had to go to your online AT&T account and change my billing address to the P.O. box.

MORONS!

Home Tomorrow!

Been a long time out this time...have shot lots and lots of guns...bought one...dog tired. OTOH filming went just great, which is ultimately the reason I'm out here. Had a really nice dinner last night with Larry Potterfield...I did an interview with Larry today that I'm pretty proud of...you'll see a little of on SG, and, hopefully, the whole thing on DRTV.

BTw, Caleb overeat Gun Nuts Media did a really good job of covering our time at Gunsite this week...check it out.

I'm going to send the Rail Gun to Wayne Novak for a gold bead front sight (and black out the rear white dots). I'll probably also get Wayne to replace the ambi safety.

Haven't had a chance to shoot the Rhino yet...ditto for the RRA pistol. The holster I got for thevRail Gun is nod of the new Galco IWBs, the Triton. Let you know how it works when I get the gun home.

Veterans Day

From all our hearts, thank you.

A special remembrance and thank you to my late father, Bob Bane, who served in the Pacific...thanks, Dad.


-- Post From My iPhone

Just Keep Moving...

...spent today with Colt's baseline AR with the 1-piece upper receiver and M1913 forward rail, fitted with Trijicon optics...again, no complaints. They ran and ran and ran and shot just fine. We did one of the outdoor simulators — essentially trails through deep washes — tonight. I used a suppressed AR fitted with a SureFire 400 weapon mounted light/laser. At the suggestion of Gunsite Rangemaster Ed Head, I left the light/laser on for the pitch dark run. Ed's rational for leaving the light on comes from his career in the Border Patrol...that's the tactic he felt worked the best, and he's been in a lot more pitch black washes than I have. I didn't use the sights at all...just the laser. Took a spec of getting used to, but it was a fast way to identify, then acquire, the targets. We also had non-suppressed ARs with Crimson Trace vertical foregrips with red or green lasers. The bright green lasers were a big hit for night work.

I made arrangements today to purchase the Rail Gun I shot. My rationale was that the Colt shot extremely well, functioned flawlessly and — the ultimate subjective judgement — felt right. I'm going to lose the 3-dot sights, probably with a Sharpie taken to the rear dots, and I may also lose the off-side ambi safety...more of an annoyance to me than a useful tool. I also got a Galco kydex IWB fitted for the Rail Gun.

I'll have a full report on DRTV as soon as I get the gun.

My take overall is that Colt is back to stay. I talked with executives and engineers, and they're really excited with the current product line and its extensions for 2011. I was also impressed that they were looking for any improvements we could suggest.

We should have video up tomorrow AM on DRTV on the weekly video podcast...check it out.

I'm rolling on to Columbia, MO, but Marshal Halloway is staying to cover the new .308 Colt rifle...again, videos up ASAP.

Santa Crip

Jim Shepherd of the Shooting Wire



-- Post From The Road

Trijicon Equipped GLOCK

-- Post From The Road

Too Tired to Catch Up Tonite...

Worked in the indoor simulator Funhouse tonight with a Colt "Rail Gun" 1911 .45 and a handheld SureFire...I was very pleased with the results. All in all, VERY impressed with the Colt. It has been perking along just great and has been as accurate as any 1911 I've shot out here. I was thinking about buying the "Model of 1911-2011" Colt for my own, but this Rail Gun is tempting me...it'd be my first Colt 1911 since, like, 1984...

Tomorrow I'll be shooting the new Colt rifles...I'll fill you in.

BTW, did meet Iain Harrison, now with Crimson Trace, tonight. Nice guy!

On the way to Gunsite for the Colt-Crimson Trace-XS Site new product event.

Ruger Rimfire wet great, although soggy.

More tonight...


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Location:Another Day, Another Few Bullets

RRC

-- Post From The Road

Back To Serious Shooting

Okay...enough running around California swilling red wine! Up at the crack of dawn to shoot the Ruger Rimfire Championships, or as much as I can shoot before we film the episode for SG. The RRC has become a solid series of national matches, and I'm really pleased about being there in the beginning and helping birth it.

Didn't have a chance to put together new rimfire guns for the match, so I'm defaulting to my Target 10/22 with an ancient Tasco ProPoint red dot and my Tactical Solutions/Ruger 22/45 pistol. Hope I can scrounge up enough CCI MiniMags to get through the match!

Will hopefully be able to post pixs from the range...

BTW, John Richardson's No Lawyers Only Guns And Money blog has become a daily read...if you haven't checked it out, give it a try...

Presented Without Comment

-- Post From The Road

Yet Another Election...

...and I need your vote! Yep, it's Golden Moose time over at OUTDOOR CHANNEL, the annual awards given at SHOT. None of my shows are technically eligible for awards, since I labor for OC. I am, however, eligible for Fan Favorite—Host/Personality.

I'd like to solicit, grovel for and beg for your vote. I believe that, if I win a Golden Moose, I will bring about World Peace, the lion shall marry the lamb, the secret recipe for the SHOOTING GALLERY Official Margarita will become the choice of diners worldwide, you dog will come home and win Best of Show at Westminster and all Angelina Jolie will be texting you any minute. No, really...

Seriously, if I have a chance at winning a Nobel Peace Prize, it has to begin here, with your vote.

You can vote for me HERE...

...or not...

GOOD MORNING AMERICA!

Deep breath...deep breath...move on! (tip of the hat to Instapundit for the pix)

The Tipping Point

Do I have to urge you to vote? You know what's at stake...in the words of Benjamin Franklin when asked what kind of government the new nation would have, "A republic. If you can keep it." Today we find out if we can keep it.

I won't tell you who to vote for or against. But I will say this...vote your heart...vote your faith...vote your intelligence...and vote your irrevocable belief in the Constitution. We are Americans, and this is OUR country.

Prove it today!

Important Statement from Alf the Wonder Beagle

RE: This picture from the weekend's John Stewart/Steven Colbert's Idiots' March in Washington D.C.:

...the Wonder Beagle today issued this statement: "I like large birds. Parrots are my friends. I resent even a puppy demeaning the special avian/canine bond. I am prepared to savagely bite anyone who comes onto my turf, which covers most of the state known to humans as 'Colorado.' I also like bacon."