November ePostal results updated

TrueBlueSam posted of receiving a Daisy Model 25 for Christmas.

I gently reminded him the November ePostal contest is open to new entries until the opening of the next match in March. He came through today with our first 10M airgun entry. We'll dig out the air rifle here at the SandCastle and put up our own entries.

 Feel free to join us! All classes are open to new entries until the posting of the new match expected circa March 2014.

TBS also posted a review of the Daisy 25 rifle:


Did you get something new for Christmas? Mebbe you should send an entry as well!  You can find the target and course of fire here.

Obummer care hits the SandCastle

Remember that "If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor" promise?  Seems in our case the promise only holds true with a huge asterisk.

Let me explain:
I've been seeing this particular GP for 15-20 years.  Great guy, almost the prototype of an old time country doctor.  A homey bedside manner, never one  to over explain things to prove he's the smartest guy in the room.  But any time we'd ask questions he always had good advice.  He's well read and keeps up with the literature.  I've had other health care practitioners tell me lauding stories of their experiences with him.

Best part, he's far more available than most practices.  The SCQueen's Dr had a minimum two week delay for an appointment.   (Chicken pox?  no prob... see me in two weeks! gah!  thanks for caring.)   I could wake up in the morning with a concern and get in to see my guy before sunset (usually just after lunch).  Once I broke a rib just before lunch.  Each breath was an exercise in (7/10) pain.  I didn't even call as the phone was ~75 steps in the wrong direction.  I just went and they saw me immediately****.

Great guy, he's one in a million.  I wouldn't trade him for all of the top experts at any of the big name medical schools.

That was the past.. now to present day:

The SCSon was sent home from school today with orders not to return until he's been cleared by a doctor*.

Calling for an appointment today we were warned MyDoc(tm) no longer processes insurance papers.  All services would be cash on the barrel head (my words not theirs).  Proper papers would be provided so we could make our own claim but the old pay model where they would submit to the insurance co then bill us for the balance  was dead and gone.  No bigge, we really like this guy so his bills always got paid first.

I emailed my friendly local DayJob(tm) med insurance HR contact for info on how to file my own claim.  Her response included an interesting comment "If he is in network, he HAS to file the claim" (emphasis mine).

Hmmm... he's always been in network but perhaps there's been a change.   Call up the POTCD**'s billing department.  In effect "Yea, the new paper work is too much trouble - it's just not worth our time.  We'll publish a fee schedule and in general, you'll see about a $30 savings over the insurance co's "ordinary and reasonable" fee".

And sure enough filing for insurance today's visit would have cost ~$82, our cash up front cost was ~$50.

Bottom line, Yes we get to keep our doctor (for now) but we now have to pay cash at the time of service and keep the insurance co out of the loop until we have enough to meet the deductible.  Less work for them, lower cost up front, more work for me.  I told the Billing Department*** "Don't blame you.  We stand with you and BTW, you're not allowed to retire ;-)"

In reality I probably won't bother to file the insurance claim.  We have the high deductible "insurance for when I get hit by a bus" plan.  And we are not likely to meet that in the few months remaining in the plan year.  So no benefit to file the claim.

And no... MyDoc(tm) is not accepting new patients.

$.02... Prolly be worth a call to your primary care doc to inquire of your current status.  That's kind of the point of this post.   We thought everything was status quo after all we don't have personal insurance policies ofthe type we've read about in the news.  Today we  learned, Nope -  Major change in the ground rules.  And I don't see it getting any better.

* Don't sweat the SCSon's illness..  It's probably NBD, a sore throat but the school nurse is hypersensitive to symptoms this time of year (and not willing to take any risks so "go see a realdoc(tm)" is the default setting).

I am not optomistic even this pay model is long for this world.   I won't even give credence to possible alternatives...

** Prototypical Old Time Country Doctor

*** The practice consists of the good POTCD and his wife who handles scheduling, billing, and front office everything.

**** He sent me home with some pain meds.  An hour later I was in bed watching TV.  The only thing on besides soaps and info-mercials was "Tool Time"  I can personally attest a comedy is the wrong answer when dealing with a broken rib.

FTC notice.. MyDoc(tm) is not identified, nor has he provided any compensation for this post, nor is he accepting any new patients (to the best of my knowledge).  So a) this isn't advertising, and b) what would be the benefit?
Bite me!

In Awe

Here's one of those things I'd yield serious body parts to have participated in:
To perform in that arena, Wright Flyer & X-15 above, amid Apollo and Mercury space capsules, wow... What an appropriate match for the USAF band!

I'd even yield body parts to just have been there (sidebar about doing instead of watching professionals not withstanding).   Awesome job USAF band [sabre salute]. I trust you did more than the two numbers (Seems like a lot of effort for 6 minutes)... is there a more complete video?

November ePostal results

I've made my list but not checked it twice. So if I've missed something, let me know. We had better participation than I'd expected for the last match of the season. It was also harder than I'd expected.  Shooting it today, I found the church key was about half the width of the front sight. Good shooting everyone!

Thanks everyone for shooting.  But the fun doesn't have to stop here.  This is the last match of the season and the results are posted.  But I'll continue to accept entries and update this post with new results until the new season starts in March.

	Shooter	Distance	Make	Caliber	Score
Rim Fire Pistol Iron Sights
	Billll	25 ft	Ruger Mk 1	.22 LR	8
	True Blue Sam	33 ft	Ruger Mk III	.22 LR	8
	Pat B	25 ft	Ruger Mk II	.22 LR	8
	Mike B	25 ft	S&W 617	.22 LR	5
	danno	33 ft	Ruger Single Six	.22 LR	4
	Patty Ann	33 ft	Ruger Mk III	.22 LR	2
	Mrs TBS	33 ft	Ruger Mk III	.22 LR	2
	Merle	25 ft	Ruger Mk II	.22 LR	2
	Merle	25 ft	S&W Kit Gun	.22 LR	1
	danno	33 ft	Ruger Mk II	.22 LR	0
	Merle	25 ft	Ruger Standard	.22 LR	0
Rim Fire Pistol Magnified Optic Sights
	Mr Completely	25 ft	High Standard	.22 LR	16
	Merle	25 ft	TC Contender	.22 LR	3
	True Blue Sam	33 ft	Ruger Mk III	.22 LR	2
Center Fire Pistol  Iron Sights
	Billll	7 Yds	Rossi 971	.357 Magnum	7
	Mike B	25 ft	S&W lightweight 5 shot	.44 Spl	4
	Merle	25 ft	S&W M624	.357 Magnum	3
	Merle	25 ft	Ruger Speed six	9 mm	2
	Merle	25 ft	Dan Wesson	.357 Magnum	1
	Merle	25 ft	Ruger 45 Convert	.45 ACP	1
	Merle	25 ft	S&W M625	.45 ACP	1
	Merle	25 ft	British Enfield no 2 revolver	.38 cal	0
Rim Fire Rifle Magnified Optic Sights
	danno	33 ft	Ruger 10-.22	.22LR	7
Air Rifle Iron Sights
	True Blue Sam	10M	Daisy Model 25	.177 ball	3

November ePostal

I really enjoyed the Top Shot series.  More so in the later seasons with the diminished emphasis of "house drama" and enhanced emphasis on the mutual respect and best wishes among competitors.

What would you pay for the opportunity to shoot drum after drum  through a "chicago typewriter"  (Thompson submachine gun)

What respectable shooter didn't think "oooh... I should be there".

I know I did.. for about two minutes before the physical realities set in.  as in, I'm too old and too out of shape to give it much of a go.

IMHO the "All Stars" season was the best of the bunch again for taking the good sportsmen angle rather than the soap opera of the prior seasons.

The November ePostal match is based upon on one of the challenges..  Opening a bottle of soda.  The scenario is that the bottle is strapped to a fixture with a churchkey positioned on the cap.  Your task is to hit the church key without touching the bottle.

I haven't found the exact clip, but if here is the full episode.  The bottle challenge starts at 17:25.

So here is the target.  (download target from the link, not the image below and make sure the  "full size" is selected, not "fit to page")

Rules of engagement:
Pistols:  Standing, unsupported.  One hand or two, shooter's choice.  Distance: 25 feet or range minimum, which ever is greater.

rifles:  distance: Air Rifle,10M, rimfire 25 yards, center fire 50 yards.  Standing or off the bench, however off the bench the fore end of the rifle must be supported by the off hand elbow.   Sand bags or any other is disallowed.

two shots at each target.  10 shots per target total, no time limit.

scoring:
a clean hit inside the churchkey, not touching any lines scores 2 points.
a liner that touches the churchkey only scores 1 point.
any touch on the bottle means you broke the bottle and scores 0, glass is very unforgiving is this aspect (including liners with the churchkey).    Final judgement on this is up to the match master.

Additional rules: only two hits per churchkey are allowed, though in case of more than two, the highest two hits will score (benefit to the shooter).  Exception:  In the case there is a hit on a particular bottle, only the best hit on the attached key scores.  Two hits on the bottle zero out any hits on the opener.

Classes..  Just shoot it and let me worry about that.  You can assume the normal caliber/sights/rifle-pistol/Hi-Point carbine matrix as needed. I'll sort 'em out in the final standings.

SOP rules:
1.  Shoot as many times as you want, but only submit your best targets pr shooter per gun.

2.  Mark your target with your name (as you want it published), weapon make & model, distance and sighting system.  Send your target to sandcastlescrolls@msn.com

3.  1:1 "Red Dot" optic sights are faster to align but time is not a factor in this game so they count as "iron sights".

Credit for the concept and original design goes to Billll.   The dayjob(tm) has had me swimming with alligators for the last couple months.  Thanks Billll for the target concept!

Are you thinking "oooh  Oooh, I have a great match idea"?  Contact TrueBlueSam for a slot on the 2014 calendar!  want to host but lack s concept? Billll has two more ideas for the sharing!

As mentioned in the opening, I really enjoyed the TS series..  Heck watchable shows are thin enough as is.  I hope they continue it though it's tough to top what they have already done.

Update 10Nov2013:  No more pizza, but results are posted!
The target has been updated to add reporting details.  Actual targets did not change.  Both old and new targets are acceptable.


In the mean time, Mrs TBS is still serving up pizza through the weekend.   This is your chance to shoot both matches in one range visit.

We have sent in our targets  Have you sent in yours?

Update 30Nov2013:  Reviewing this I do not see an end date.  At the very least targets will be accepted through Dec 2.  But this is also the last match of the year so I am inclined to hold entries through next weekend if anyone still wants to shoot.  I may make even make the request myself as I haven't had a chance to shoot this.  I am hoping to shoot it Sunday if I can get a bench at the range.  Bottom line, soonest entries will close will be 23:59 02Dec2013, but I will extend on request.

Meet my Mother In Law

Update:   23Oct2013  TrueBlueSam identifies the rifle as a Remington 512.  Remington made the rifles starting in 1940 so the timeline works out.  Thanks TBS!

The SandCastle Queen came home with some photos last week including this undated photo of her mother.  I love it... At port arms with her finger clear of the trigger.

"SCMIL with her brother's gun" was written on the back.  SCMIL thinks she was 15 or 16 at the time and it was taken on the family farm in Indiana.  Doing the math, that would date the picture circa early 1940s, probably during WWII.  She thinks the gun belonged to her brother G.

SCMIL had four older brothers, three of which enlisted in the USArmy for WWII.  Timing of the photo suggests her brothers had been through basic training by then and passed rifle discipline on to their little sister.

One went ashore on DDay+1 and went on to liberate one of the concentration camps; SCQueen thinks it was DachauBuchenwald. SCQueen reports he never talked about his time in the war.

A 2nd brother was stationed in South America, and the third lied about his age to enlist.

Also SCFIL's mom was quite the eagle eye herself.  Her HS resume includes "Rifle II, III, Advanced Rifle II, III, Manager Advanced Rifle IV. 

I don't recognise the gun.  Bolt action with a tubular magazine - doesn't ring any bells*.  And one heck of a scope!  I hope it now resides in a safe with the G descendants.  Unfortunately the family tree includes a couple black sheep ne'er do wells that could have easily pawned it for peanuts. And that makes me sad.  I have a strong belief that guns should be treated as family heirlooms at least as valuable as the family silver.

The SandCastle Queen comes from good stock.  I chose wisely.  She also approved the content of this post.

* We welcome any information on the rifle and/or scope in the comments.

Free Stuff

And who doesn't like free stuff?

Matthew Bracken's "Domestic Enemies: The Reconquista" is available as a free Kindle download (follow the link!).  I don't have a Kindle but I do have the free Kindle app on my Nexus 7 & PC. 

I picked up "Enemies Foreign and Domestic", the first book in the trilogy "Enemies Foreign and Domestic".  I couldn't put it down.  It was an exciting read though not exactly a happy ending.
I've downloaded my copy and started on the next volume.  You have just a couple days to download yours as well.  The last in the series will be available starting Oct 28th.  Mark your calendar!

I've downloaded my copy, have you?    H/T David Codrea / WOG.

Item 2:  For those in the Phoenix Metro area on November 5th, Michael Bane will be shooting a 2014 episode of "Downrange TV" at the Ben Avery shooting range just North of the metro area.  Ben Avery is truly a world class range offering everything from small bore pistol to 1000 yard rifle.  Also every shotgun game as well.  Click Here for the invite and to sign up.  H/T ExUrbanKev.

The Tuesday scheduling will likely conflict with my DayJob(tm) requirements So my participation is doubtful.  I envy those that can make it.  Should be fun!