Happy New Year
Hope Christmas was great, and have a Happy New Year! God bless you and yours!
Archive for December, 2009
Gun Accessory
If you are looking for sale prices on that certain gun accessory you DIDN'T get for Christmas, check out the Online Guns Hot Deals page! Many of the coupon codes listed there are good through the end of December.
- Greg
Lyman Powder Measure
Now through 12-31-09 the Lyman Powder Measure #55 is on sale at MidwayUSA! They are currently offering 10% off!
Visit MidwayUSA for more information on the Lyman Powder Measure.
For more reloading tools visit Reloading Vault.
- Greg
Growning up in Indiana – Part VII – Making Christmas Cookies
Making Christmas cookies seems to have always been a part of my family’s Christmas traditions. My earliest memory of us making cookies would have to be when I was about 7 years old. For some reason my Mom must have made every cookie recipe that Betty Crocker had published! She would roll out the dough, then my sisters and I would cut them out. There were other cookies that she didnt let us help her with. Some that you dipped in chocolate, then nuts. She also would make fudge, cracked candy, and divinity. She would start baking weeks ahead of time, freeze the cookies, then pack them into tins for gifts later. That particular year, I remember that she had to rebake a few batches because my sisters and I would get into the freezer for an after school snack. Imagine my moms face on Christmas Eve when she opened the containers to find them half empty! I think that year we really worried if Santa would be paying us a visit later that night…but he did just the same.
As an adult I can honestly say that my children and I didnt always make cookies. When we did, I would use the same recipe that my mother used when I was a kid. I would smile, it reminded me of happy times I had playing in the flour just like they did. It is funny how such a simple tradition can last for decades, and be carried down for generations. I read the other day that the making of the Christmas cookie dates back as far as the 15th century. The spritz cookie was made then, its amazing that recipes are that old. Wow!
As I have shared before in other exerpts, we had a blessed childhood. I had parents that spent time with us. I had a family that was intact. My parents both had wonderful families, that actually spent time together. They passed down a legacy of love, commitment, and faith in God. If I had one wish this Christmas, I think it would be that even if its just a simple thing as making cookies together this season, you would be able to experience it with your family. It’s memories such as that, that have held me together during the tough times. I know it can do the same for others.
Merry Christmas! and have a Blessed New Year
Merry Christmas with Steve’s Slow-Cook Venison Stew!
Not many foods can thaw a cold winter chill like a hot hearty stew made from meat with an animal you have taken. This is how I built my last batch of elk stew, courtesy of an animal taken this October in Colorado with the Burris company.
Steve's Slow-Cook Venison Stew:
In a large slow cooker, add the ingredients in the following order:
A few carrots cut into one inch pieces, or baby carrots.
A few ribs of celery in one inch pieces
Several red potatoes cut into one inch chunks
A few parsnips cut into one inch chunks (this is a secret that really takes stews over the top)
A cup or two of chopped onions (I use both red and yellow)
Lots of chopped garlic
A few bay leaves
A couple tablespoons of Worcestershire sauce
A tablespoon or so of dried thyme (one of my favorite herbs, always dried from my garden)
A tablespoon or so of dried basil (from my garden)
Black pepper to taste ( I like pepper so I put in a couple tablespoons)
A couple pounds of any well trimmed venison cut into one inch pieces
A couple large cans of whole tomatoes with juice (I use our frozen garden cherry tomatoes)
Several cans of beef broth
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup cold water
You can determine your own exact recipe according to your tastes, and size of cooker. Remember to crush the herbs to release more flavor. Do not stir the pot. Make sure the fluid covers all the ingredients and is pretty close to the top of the cooker. Put the temperature on low and forget about it for 8 or 10 hours.
Scoop out the meat and vegetables and place in a large covered serving bowl, leaving the liquid in the cooker. Discard the bay leaves. Turn cooker to high and cover it. Whisk the flour and water in a small bowl until smooth. Add a cup of the cooking liquid and mix well. Stir the mixture into the cooker and mix again. Keep it covered and cook for 15 minutes. Pour the sauce over the meat and vegetables and enjoy with a hearty crusty bread. I always make wheat bread from scratch to go with this special treat. The stew freezes well. I have used variations of this recipe with whitetail, mulies, pronghorn, caribou, and now elk. It's a simple recipe that you can modify to your desires.
I took the preceding picture last night from some thawed leftovers. It was accompanied by raw cow's milk french bleu cheese with seasoned rye crackers, 12 grain bread and cold grape juice. Life is good. Enjoy!
I am going to SHOT SHOW 2010!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am very excited to announce that I changed my mind and will be attending SHOT Show after all!
At the beginning of this year I brought y'all great coverage of the show, despite not being there, and I hope to do an ever better job next month.
SHOT Show '09. Photo (C) Ken Lunde
Magnum Research Desert Eagle 1911 !!!
Magnum Research is manufacturing a 1911 which will go on sale next year! Two sized model will be on offer.
Magnum Research has entered the 1911 segment of the handgun market with its first two offerings, a full-size (5.055” barrel) and semi-compact (4.33” barrel) Desert Eagle® 1911 pistol. Both models feature enhanced beavertail safety, skeletonized trigger and hammer, crisp trigger, extended safety lever, beveled magazine well, tightly tolerance frame and slide for enhanced accuracy.
I believe that these pistols will be manufactured in the United States, not imported from Israel.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Model | 1911 "G" Full-Size |
| Caliber | .45 ACP |
| Length | 8.625" |
| Barrel | Length| 5" |
| Height | 5.25" |
| Width | 1.28" |
| Finish | Black Oxide |
| Weight Empty | 2.261 lbs |
| Magazine | 7+1 Rounds |
| Trigger | Single Action |
| Safety | Grip Safety, Extended Thumb Safety |
| Sights | Fixed |
| MSRP | $799 |
| Available | 2010 |
[ Many thanks to the reader who for emailed me the info. ]
Glock Gen4 has new recoil spring system
SayUncle confirms changes to the recoil system ...
The Gen 4 uses a double captive recoil system ala the G26/27/33. To accommodate this, the area in the frame below the recoil rod is more cut out. This reduces perceived recoil. It also should take care of the problem of malfunctions caused by limp-wristing the grip. And should eliminate reported failures to eject when a weapon light is mounted.
Interesting!
A dog that chews on ammo?!?!?!
What James's new dog is was using as chew toys ...
Read about the newest addition to his household over at Hell in a Handbasket.
Ancient Pirate Gun? I think not!
This article was published in the June 1934 issue of Popular Mechanics magazine (via. Modern Mechanix) ...
Weighing 150 pounds and resembling a cannon more than a firearm, a huge, brass-barreled, portable field piece has been recovered from the sea, where a pirate lost it, and added to a collection of ancient guns in Pasadena, Calif. The gun was one of those used by the pirate, Hippolyte de Bouchard, when he and 400 followers sacked Monterey in 1818. In returning to their ship, the men lost this gun when a small boat overturned. In later years it was recovered by fishermen who saw it on the ocean floor at low tide. Another firearm almost as remarkable is a gun with a very long barrel used by Spanish settlers in hunting. They believed that the longer the barrel, the further the ball would carry, and so used long-barreled guns to kill game at long range. The long gun has an over-all length of about ten feet.
That pirate gun is almost certainty a Punt Gun. While nifty, they are not uncommon.
What is more interesting, at least to me, is the very long Spanish "sniper" rifle. That barrel would probably have decreased velocity, not helped it, but the long length and weight would have it easier to hit a moving target, much like how shotgunners use longer barrels today.
[ Many thanks to Sven (Defense and Freedom) for emailing me the the info. ]