Security Theater...

First off, please understand I absolutely *loathe* what airline travel has become.  Our general feeling is if we can't fly ourself, we're not going.  Unfortunately the DayJob(tm) has a policy against me flying myself on company business.  I can usually evade airline travel requests with a simple "I don't have a passport".  Unfortunately that excuse failed with a request to visit a California customer. I strenuously objected "Yea they might technically be one of the 57  states, they are in reality a foreign country and I don't have a passport, let alone a visa.  Heck I even doubt my shots are up to date for a visit."  The weren't buying it and unfortunately I am (Tix that is)...

Outbound leg: 20 minutes in the 'theater queue and finally at the front of the line.  TSA'droid finishes with her previous priority pax and tells me to hold "I don't have a line to send you to".  I politely inquire about line "n" which seems to have a reasonably short line.  "Oh no... that line is too long too."

A millesecond later the 'droid next to her becons.  He scans my details and promptly sends me on to the very same line "n" I previously inquired about.   The lips vigorously struggle to contain the tongue as it struggles to erupt and point in the first 'droids general direction.    Happily it seems to be the one line where the virtual voyeurs are on break.  So no "harmless" (mostly) irradiation.


Meeting over and my exit visa came through to leave the PRC (Peoples Republic of California).  Rental car refueled and returned (another story in itself).  Across the street, up the escalators to enter the security zone; Shoes off, laptops (plural) in separate bins, along with shoes, glasses, coinage, etc.

Suddenly an alarm is called.   A couple minutes later even the TSA 'droids manning the gate are grousing about the drill.  "We already had a real event this morning, why do we need a drill now?"  Everyone is frozen in position and there is no commotion to suggest the event is real.  But the exit doors are closed and locked; the only thing moving here is the line and it's growing!  15 minutes later the all clear is called.  No sweat for me, I'd allowed for a long commute in from over the hill and traffic was lighter than expected.  Whatever//// just a couple fewer pages of Weston Ochse's "Empire of Salt" consumed before boarding (and it's really getting good).

Meanwhile I'd recognized one of the TSA 'droids manning my checkpoint. Last time through the same checkpoint he noted the (subdued) NRA logo on my bag and we got to talking about guns.   I reminded him of the conversation and he too remembered. The ensuing gunnie talk helps to pass the time.

BTW, I was happy to see the "irradiate me now" machines were closed and blocked off; Only the metalDetectors.std were in use. 

The freedom flight pushed back at the scheduled time, and between me and the guy on the aisle we managed to ward off a middle seater.  Not fighting over the armrest dramatically improves the quality of the flight.

So fifteen minutes of delay for everyone, for absolutely no return.   My only takeaway from this exercise is that the 'droids hearing the initial SOS call is 100% functional today.  You're welcome for the 15 minutes of my life I'll never get back.

Gawd I hate what airline travel has become...

Closing Time!

May is in the rear view mirrors and so ends Necco Mania!  The DayJob(tm) has me on a plane at OMG-darkthirty tomorrow so I'll take scores through the end of the week.  Don't wait, lets get 'em in!

Update:
Random Nuclear Strikes is on deck but hasn't posted yet.  Stay tuned over there, something will be posted soon. (I like the OBL - zombie edition suggestion ;-).

Blog roll addition

Airplanes and guns.  That's the same combination that drives me so how could I not add All Nine Yards to the roll?

(HT via Robb).

Last Call!

The May ePostal contest ends next week so this is your last weekend chance to shoot Necco Mania!

If you're heading out with the family, take some targets and enter the whole family! Don't worry if they can't quite shoot the match as called, enter the target and we'll find a place to record the score.

And don't forget the low-ball class. Send in your worst target even if is from the same gun as entered in a previous category.

nicely done...

Heh.  The SandCastle Queen just left one of these on the on the neighbor's door.

(HT Capitalist Pig via fb)

We use term "abducted by aliens" at the dayjob to describe someone who has been let go for some reason*.  They are seemingly there one day and gone the next, their entire physical existence within the company scrubbed.  We may need to update that to "raptured".

ePostal class 12 entry

I spent a pleasant shooty afternoon last Saturday.  First was a trip to the range to give "reactive targets" a go. Followed by an evening of sniffing of Hoppes #9 cleaning the guns and finally reloading the .44 brass.

One of the guns I brought to shoot was this years BAG day acquisition, a S&W 629 in .44 magnum.  I figured the large diameter bullets making the effective target size a little larger would compensate for the magnum recoil.  Turns out not so much.

20 rounds down range, 15 hit the hit the 8.5x11" sheet of paper and exactly one clipped a target circle.

In my defense, this was shot at 11 yards (minimum distance the club allows), and this gun is the newest addition to the SandCastle weapons locker.  Even after the 20 rounds for the target, I have less than 50 rounds through it.

Still, this is why the class exists.  Sorry to set the bar so low ;-)

Reactive Targets

I'm going to jump the gun and put this up a day early because step one is a scavenger hunt.  Also as a reminder Today is the last day to shoot the April contest.  JimmyB the Conservative UAW Guy wants targets in by midnight! 

I got into shooting because it's fun!  Unfortunately what most people do with guns is to focus on the least fun aspect of the sport: punching holes in paper.  Don't get me wrong, it's the only way to measure repeatable accuracy.  It's the only way to see who's the best.  But the real fun is in putting that bullet where you want it with instant pass/fail feedback.

For that you need reactive targets.  Targets that let you know immediately of a hit or miss.  That means steel plates, poppers, and plate racks; clay pigeons, an old time shooting gallery and the big daddy of reactive targets, Boomershoot (playing out this very weekend).  These are a lot more fun than punching holes in paper.

Unfortunately the fleeting nature of reactive targets make them hard to put into the ePostal format of "try as many times as you like and submit your best".  But I think I've found a way that at least some ranges will allow the target.  These reactive targets are non-explosive and biodegradable but provide the desired response. 

Ladies, Gentlemen and Shooters everywhere, I give you "Necco® Mania!"

Necco Wafers are pressed sugar wafers which shatter when hit with a pleasant rain of sugar fragments.

As hinted late last year, this match is posted in three parts.

1. Scavenger hunt: Procure a roll(s) of "Necco Wafers".  In the days of my youth, every grocery and liquor store carried these candy rolls.  They probably sold for a dime like every other candy bar at the time.  They are still produced but are no longer in wide distribution.  I the SandCastle Queen found these are our local specialty candy store.
   
2. Affix one wafer to each target circle on the linked target.  White glue, contact cement or double sided tape have all been successful.  This is our target.  I opted for the "chocolate flavors" as there are more dark colored wafers per roll.  The normal roll has lots of pastels which might not contrast well with the white paper backing.  Coloring the wafers for maximum contrast is allowed.  The SCQueen suggests food coloring if you want to eat the misses afterwards.  Ink or paint coloring is not recommended for human consumption.
   
   
3. Shoot said target, enjoy the sight and sound of shattering wafers; and HAVE FUN!

The wafers are NOT required to shoot the match, they just make it more fun!  You can just shoot the naked target itself.

Course of fire:
Download and print target here.

19 targets, 20 shots.  These are tiny targets, you are allowed one free miss.  The target has 19 spots while each Necco roll contains 38 wafers by my count.  You may assume the even multiple is not an accident. 

Pistols: 7 yds or range minimum which ever is greater.  Standing unsupported, one or two hands. No time limit.
Rifles may be shot any position including off the bench, but rests such as sandbags and bi-pods are disallowed.  The fore end of the rifle must be supported by the offhand elbow*.   No time limit.

• Rimfire, both iron sights and scope: 25 yards (4 MOA).
• Centerfire iron sight: 50 yds (2 MOA)
• Centerfire scope: 100 yds (1 MOA)

Scoring is binary.  Either you hit and destroyed the wafer or you did not.  +1 for a hit, +0 for a miss.  A cracked wafer counts as a hit, assuming there is a hole just adjacent to the target circle).  But only the first hit on a target circle scores (since the wafer was destroyed by the first hit).   For those shooting the naked target (no wafer), standard rules apply:  A hit touching the target scores.  Max score: 19, Min score: 0.

Ties will be broken by distance.  The longer distance takes the place (7M > 7Yds).

Shoot as many times as you like with as many weapons as you can lay your grubby hands on.  With the exception of class 12, we only want to see your best scores for each gun.  Save your worst of the month for class 12 (any gun).

Classes:  You got it? shoot it and we'll find a place to record the score. (I reserve the right to draw the line at tater-guns & scatter guns).

1. .177 cal air pistol, iron sights (air or C02 powered)
2. .177 cal air pistol, optic sights (air or C02 powered)
3. .17/.22 cal rim fire pistol, iron sights
4. .17/.22 cal rim fire pistol, magnified optical sights
5. center fire pistol, iron sights
6. center fire pistol, magnified optic sights
7. .17/.22 cal rim fire rifle iron sights (25 yds)
8. .17/.22 cal rim fire rifle magnified optic sights (25 yds)
9. center fire rifle iron sights (50 yds)
10. center fire rifle magnified optic sights (100 yds)
11. other (anything that doesn't fit the above categories)
12. Low-ball (if you managed to put twenty holes on paper and yet miss most, submit your target here.  This class is open to all comers and may duplicate the firearm used in prior categories.  Inspired by Mr C's March Mess.  Can anyone beat my -19 in March?)

Non-magnified optic sights (e.g. reddot) count as iron sights.  1:1 "RedDot" sights might be slightly faster to align than normal iron sights as there is only one sight to get on target, not two.  But speed is not a factor in this game so it's a wash.  Take your time and make good hits with either system.

Score submissions: scan/photograph your target, fill in the gun info (make & model & caliber), distance, class, on-line identity (name/pseudonym as you want it on the score sheets, blog reference for linky love ) however you want to be remembered on the score sheets... email to SandCastleScrolls-at-msn-dot-com.

Post Scripts:

* handicapped shooters are invited and encouraged to participate.  Waivers will be granted to the extent of the limitation.  Come and shoot with us!

"Necco" is a registered trademark of the New England Confectionary Company, Inc.  Revere MA   www.necco.com
#include std/FTC.disclaimer... This match is not endorsed nor sponsored by Necco (Dang.. I wish I'd thought to ask).  I nor any of the SandCastle Crew have received compensation of any form for what might be considered "product placement".  They offer the product and this seems to be a fun way to enjoy the product.

HatTip:  The "shooting at biodegradable targets" idea comes from friend and fellow shooter JJ.  Sorry, no web presence so no linky love.  Still credit where credit is due.