cabin fever
Nils Rasmusson nilsynils / CC0
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Cabin Fever
Nils Rasmusson nilsynils / CC0

It’s only been a few days, but are you already starting to climb the walls from being in such close proximity to family members? Are video games not your thing? Looking for something productive to do during your coronavirus quarantine?

Here are three dandy gun-related ideas to keep you busy (and sane).

1) Clean and lubricate all of your guns

hoppe's gun cleaning kit
I love the smell of Hoppes. Smells like…victory. And bananas. (courtesy Amazon)

Some people are fastidious about maintaining their firearms. Others…aren’t. Friends and coworkers of mine have gone more than a year between cleanings of their carry guns or home defense rifles and shotguns. Some of these yokels even seem proud of it and that’s something I just don’t get at all.

A clean, well-lubricated machine is one you can depend on to work if and when you really need it. You can’t run your car without oil, and you shouldn’t ask your guns to, either.

And don’t hand me that “Well, my GLOCK…” tripe. Modern poly striker-fired guns need lubrication, too. And if you aren’t cleaning and lubricating your AR…you aren’t doing it right.

It’s a gas gun design from the 1950’s, folks. You get the best results from gas guns when they are kept clean and well-lubed.

You’re stuck at home, right? Time to lean, time to clean, as the old saying goes.

2) Load all of your magazines

loading magazines
Seaman Apprentice Timothy Hale / Public domain

If you have spare magazines and plenty of ammunition, why not combine them? It’s like leaving chocolate and peanut butter separated. They’re practically meant to be together.

Lots of gun owners have plenty of spare magazines. It’s surprising how many of those mags lay around unloaded. In an emergency, empty magazines are about as useful as an ashtray on a motorcycle.

If you have plenty of ammo — and we know you do — and you also have empty mags, gather them all together, dig that Uplula out of your range bag (or just toughen up your thumbs) and get to it.

Because you always need more magazines and having empty mags at home is dumb. Just ask Clint Smith.

 

Finally, once all of your guns are clean and your magazines are loaded, there’s always . . .

3) Dry fire practice

If we’ve said it once, we’ve said it a thousand times (and we’re going to say again). Dry fire practice is one of the most effective ways to hone and maintain your shooting skills.

W.D.M. Bell did thousands of dry fire reps while on the march during his hunting years in Africa. That’s how he was able to perfect the Bell shot and drop elephants with a 7mm Mauser (and shoot cormorants and flying fish out of the air with a rifle).

Ask any top flight competitive shooters or self defense instructor who’s worth his salt and they’ll tell you how important it is. You can do it at home in a spare room, basement, garage…whatever. It’s a great way to practice and perfect your draw, presentation, trigger pull and re-holstering.

So yeah, it’s a great exercise and you now have a lot more time on your hands. So get after it.

For those of you who reload…this is a pretty good time to crank out a lot of rounds. You’ll be able to add to your ammunition supply a lot easier everyone who’s out there going from store to store looking for gun food.

Any other great ideas for gun-related things to do during a COVID19 quarantine that you can think of? Sound off in the comments.

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117 COMMENTS

  1. Been passing the time shooting spinner targets in the back yard with my collection of air rifles. A great distraction and a way to blow off some of the cabin fever.

    • 4) Cast bullets from the mountains of free wheel weights acquired over the years, Paint cast bullets with gloss enamel, or powder coat. Reload ammo.

      5) Talk to neighbors about guns. Teach them how to use a gun. Sell them 1 of the 235 guns you have in your collection.

      6) Gun projects. Any project guns laying around? Complete them. Refinish that stock you always wanted to refinish. Clean the cosmo off that old sks or mauser that you just haven’t got around to cleaning. Get out “Casey’s plum brown” rust blue + steam and blue some guns a beautiful dark black the same day.

      7) Get out the table saw and router, and make a gun rack for the attic, underground prepper bunker, or other hidden location. Example:
      https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3a/dd/51/3add516de5df1adb78b51d0be651d206.jpg

      8) Revamp your garage ammo manufacturing. Finish fabricating the tools you didn’t have time for. Bent and sharpened paperclips for case head separation feelers. Machined/sharpened berdan primer extractors out of chainsaw file or whatever. DIY case/walnut filters. DIY motorized stainless media tumblers, etc.

      9) As an alternative, or addendum to #1), check all your guns in storage. Check rifle bores. If dry, and regularly not fired or touched, grease the bores with casey’s gun grease, or automotive bearing grease (graphite). Zip tie the trigger guard through the magwell and bolt with a flag indicating bore greased.

      10) Check your ammo storage. Open ammo cans, and check desiccant. Replace desiccant as needed. Buy used silica gel for like $1 a pound or less. Bake in the oven and package in cotton bags with zippers for easy reusing: Example:
      https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Aspire-12-Pack-Natural-Canvas-Pouches&ref=nb_sb_noss

      11) Go to your neighborhood “Tandy Leather.” And fix your leather slings, scabbards, leather magazine bags, and holsters:
      https://www.tandyleather.com/en/

      Get Creative, and employ your kids and wife in the endeavor is possible. Make scope covers, protectors, cartridge holders, butt stock risers.

  2. Clean, size, trim and prime all that range picked brass. Cast, powder coat and size some bullets. Load some if you still have time left.

    • +1 Spend some time on the reloading bench getting ammunition prepared for the next set of competitions.

      Also sort out your ammunition storage.

  3. Practice OPSEC!

    Don’t tell anyone about you own guns. Don’t tell anyone about your food stockpile. Don’t argue with Coronavirus-deniers.

    • Exactly. Keep quiet and be very non-assuming. There are times when your business is your business, even with friends. I am not a full blown prepper but I make sure I can withstand 2 months of disaster.

      • The only single person who knows how many total guns I own is my eldest adult son. Everyone else with whom I might choose to converse on the topic only knows that I own “some”. Anyone outside my circle who deigns to inquire about my experience with guns only hears me talk about a single Glock, a .22LR plinking rifle, and a shotgun. It provides the expected perception that I’m a gun owner, but never betrays all the other guns, ammo, and training that stand behind them.

        • JEEZE!

          After 40-some years of collecting, building and trading I couldn’t tell you how many guns I OWN at this point. Can probably come fairly close checking my data base but doubt it’s current. Perhaps I’ll do a bit of review there but to be honest, I’m retired and other than not being able to go the Statehouse, not much has changed for me. Still go get coffee, grocery stores are open here and have food and toilet paper, car starts and runs and no martial law road blocks or anything… (Sorry to those of you in NY, IL and the like) Sitting at a Panera Bread as I write.

          Nothing better to do? Get an NLT or NIV Bible and start reading, if only as a history document. Good stuff there. Easy to unerstand in these forms as well. You’ll soon discover there is nothing new under the sun in the past 5000 years or so. All the best, everyone.

        • I grew up with the NIV. And if I might be permitted to say, I’d like to make a correction to your comment and say reading the Bible is actually one of those “better things to do” that shouldn’t be put off to the bottom of the list, to be read only if you have nothing better to do.

          My $0.02. 🙂

        • Amen, Brother,
          However many guns I own is no one’s business but mine and I will admit/talk about owning only a Remington 572, .22 caliber, and my Dad’s Ithaca Model 37 that’s older than I am. It’s a darn shame I lost those other guns in a boating accident on Lake Michigan.

  4. Darn best plan for me . Kept cleaning , n load N mags , dry fire practice , lift unloaded weapons over head , do curls , stretch , arm length lifts , of course all with unloaded weapon ..

    Thanks

  5. Yes, but my GLOCKs…

    We should all know this, but if you do lube your Glock(s), keep the striker assembly dry. Just put a very thin coat of lube on the barrel and inside of slide for cycling purposes. Do NOT ever attempt to lube the striker assembly, as any fluid may attract particulates, resulting in gummy surfaces that will affect striker performance. I know most of you already know this, but I’ve seen it happen to less-than-experienced Glock owners. They’re fantastic guns, but they don’t operate like ARs or 1911s.

    Load up all your mags! To capacity! Or wait…minus one round to allow for bolt-closed tactical reloads! Or wait…just load them up and slam-install your mag when the adrenaline is pumping during a firefight with the Horde coming to take your toilet paper! Or wait…PMAGs are unreliable. Or maybe that was Hex? Or maybe they’re just fine and your the stupid one who can’t load a mag? I forget…

    • I just make a point of doing a detail strip on my glock slides every 6 months or so. A quick swab down the striker channel cleans out everything nicely. It’s not a major issue unless you don’t detail strip your guns regularly. (Same way I detail strip my AR bolts every 1000 rounds or so just to get the carbon that builds up under the extractor.)

      • It’s nice to hear someone finally give constructive advice. Maintaining your slide is easy and necessary for complete reliance of your Glock pistols. Less is more when it comes to your Glocks, so do that little bit to assure perfect performance when you need it.

    • Haz,

      I heard we can run our Glocks through the dishwasher. I’d like to give that a try? Should I unload them first?





      (giggle)

        • …if you even let the wifey know what you did with “her” dishwasher in the first place. 🙂

        • Yep, I learned discretion early on, not long after she found my cache of bait (night crawlers) in the refrigerator. “Sorry honey, it’s how we grew up!” But it’s not how I live now. Those Hispanic women can really rattle off the syllables whenever they get fired up.

  6. I assembled a lower yesterday. First time for me, and it was pretty enjoyable. I’ll head to the range today or tomorrow to make some noise. Also need to put a bunch of rounds through my recently purchased P365xl. Then I’ll have some cleaning to do and parts to order for the next one waiting to be built.

    • Nice! I think that’s really worth doing just for the educational value, and it helped me understand how the parts fit together. Did my second one with my older son, and let him pick the stock that went on it.

      Enjoy!

  7. I always keep my guns disassembled and locked up tightly, separately from the one box of ammunition I own; can never be too safe with guns in the house, right?

    • I encased my guns in concrete. I got worried they were plotting some of that ‘gun violence’ and did not want to take any chance.

      I don’t keep ammo on hand. I go to the store right before a range trip and use all I bought at the range. I think the bullets are what encourage the violence.

      • I only own one cartridge. I keep it in my pocket ‘Barney Fife’ style. I figure that if I ever need to use it and the situation calls for more, I’ll just hide behind jwm and let him run Breach for me as we enter the store for toilet paper.

        • Breaching for TP. That’s got the making of a Hollywood Epic there with the right writer.

          In the end we all got wiped out.

        • But as you pull up the stool, make sure you don’t leave any skid marks on the floor. Wives typically complain about finding skid marks.

          …or so I’ve been told.
          …by my brother’s wife.
          …because my brother isn’t capable of handling his stool properly.

      • JWM,

        Your should send your guns for gun-training. That may help you manage their obvious behavior problems. But you will have to chisel them out of the concrete, first.

        • No the training only works if it’s mandatory. Otherwise they will still be unskilled. Educate your guns better please.

  8. Maintain a low profile for yourself and your guns.

    In the unlikely event that you do not normally maintain a supply of food and fuel to remain sequestered for a couple of weeks, do so.

    There is a lot f hype about the Coronovirus. However; just a few thousand infections in and around Wuhan was suffeciently alarming to the ChiComs that they locked down 50 million people in their industrial heartland for one-fourth of a year.

    • That alone should be concerning. The Chicoms are more than willing to kill a few million people if it will avoid them taking a 0.1% haircut on their GDP.

      • It’s currently a hair more than 0.1%.

        Try 13.5 % for just the first 2 months of the year.

        https://www.scmp.com/economy/china-economy/article/3075314/coronavirus-caused-dramatic-collapse-chinas-economy-warning

        The Chinese are truly screwed. Lock-downs slow the spread and reduce eventual fatalities, but putting the factories back in operation accelerates the pandemic.

        China walks a tightrope with its people. The CCP is hyper aware that if mass protests break out, it threatens their power. Like with the Hong Kong protests, they are fully aware that a brutal crackdown will leak out with pictures and video, and China must avoid that at all costs, as it threatens the image they are trying to present to the rest of the world that China today is a kinder, gentler China, not the old one of brutally machine-gunning protesting students in Tiananmen Square by the thousands.

        China’s problems are just beginning…

    • Remember the infection and fatality rates we hear out of China are the propaganda numbers. The real numbers are much higher.

      There are flow on effects through the supply chains. Manufacturing in Korea and even Europe had stalled because of Chinese supplies parts being stopped because of the lock downs. I had to change some parts in a new PC build because some were unavailable and new stock was weeks away at best.

      New movies are being delayed, some up to a year, because the cinemas in China are closed. Movies in China are very big business.

  9. *sigh* I’m not locking myself behind doors to peer fearfully from behind my curtains at the outside world. I engage in a lot of outdoor activities and will continue to do so.

    Living scared ain’t living.

    • Yup, you know it. Did a 4 mile run on my favorite trail here Today in shut it all down Ohio. Have a longer run planned next week on a different trail due to my upcoming half marathon being delayed until next year. The closest shooting range is a self-serve outdoor range so next reasonably warm day is a range day. I do wish I’d gone ahead and watched King Kong, 1933 version at the theater Sunday – just not the same even on a big TV.

    • Yup, you know it. Did a 4 mile run on my favorite trail here today in shut it all down Ohio. Have a longer run planned next week on a different trail due to my upcoming half marathon being delayed until next year. The closest shooting range is a self-serve outdoor range so next reasonably warm day is a range day. I do wish I’d gone ahead and watched King Kong, 1933 version at the theater Sunday – just not the same even on a big TV – before the guv shut everything down this afternoon.

    • ” I engage in a lot of outdoor activities and will continue to do so.”

      Do outdoor activities to your heart’s content.

      You may wish to do it not near groups of people, however. Good thing the great outdoors has lots of empty space with relatively few potential disease vectors nearby, and you can avoid them… 🙂

    • Y’know, I’ve done that and I’ll be damned if I know where I put that paper! Hahaha… I guess I’ll do it again…

  10. Now is my chance to go through the buckets of brass my friends like to drop off. The sound of the tumbler swooshing around with the steel pins is relaxing, and when it’s done I can look forward to happy hours at the reloading bench. Then I get to call up my friends and have them come and collect the ammo. They pay for powder and projectiles and we all have lots of practice. I honestly couldn’t tell you if I enjoy reloading more than shooting, or shooting more than reloading.

  11. It would be interesting to know just how many mags onhand is deemed “enough” for commenters (and article writers) primary SHTF handgun and rifle.

    My SHTF onhand mag supply……

    Handgun; WC/Beretta 92G Brig Tac w/bench worked action, flared magwell, lanyard loop replaced with mag guide, white ringed tritium front, U notch Battle rear sights.
    16 20 rd mags (M9 18rd w/+2 MecGar bases)
    16 15 rd mags (PVD sand resistant coating)
    560rds.

    Rifle; Patriot Ord Co P308 Gen4 EDGE SPR w/1-8×28 Trijicon Accupower scope (very popular 3 gun optic, daylight bright and true 1x for both eyes open shooting).
    2 50 rd PMag drums
    12 25 rd PMag Gen3
    12 20 rd PMag Gen3
    2 10rd PMag Gen3
    660rds.

    How much is “enough”?

  12. Set out aiming stakes, clear fields of fire, establish choke points and kill zones, cover and block likely avenues of approach. You know, take all the really necessary steps and precautions while the press drives everyone else into TP-hoarding madness.

  13. Cabin fever? Not a chance. I am at work like most people in this town. Heck, even the court is still open, unlike Los Angeles. The only change I’ve seen is one 24-hr grocery store is closing at midnight to seven because the panic keeps emptying out the shelves of spaghetti sauce, beans, and TP. I am kind of surprised that the liquor aisle is still well stocked.

    • Booze isle will not be stocked for long where I am along the border of Indiana and Michigan. Both states closed all bars and restaurants today. Around here beer and cigarettes are first thing horded when a snow storm hits.

  14. “And if you aren’t cleaning and lubricating your AR… you not doing it right.” Yep, weekly. At least. Whether you’ve fired it or not.

    Magazines loaded. Yep. Again. But not all. I usually do half and rotate. 20 for Galil 5.56. That’s 700 rds. 20 for HK-91. that’s 400 rds. This not counting the M-1 and 03-A3 clips. All loaded magazines kept in various support gear. Don’t know how many Wilson 1911 mags I have loaded, but it’s a whole heap-a-bunch. And that’s a lot. All that said this corona virus thing is crap. The media is blowing it up to make Trump look bad. When nothing comes of it I hope Americans see our media for what they are. And are pissed at them.

    • Over 1k rounds in mags.
      Nice.
      During a SHTF situ, calling “time out” for mag reloading won’t be respected.

      • Only load half you mags at one time. Let the other half rest, and recover. Keeping them all loaded, all the time is just asking the springs to take a set, and not function when you need them.

        • Good to point that out.
          I swap loaded/unloaded mags twice a year, approx Jan 1st and July 1st.
          With a SHTF situ, all would be loaded.
          Also, my loaded AR mags are left 1 rd short, to assist “closed bolt” insertion.

  15. Organize and sort your ammo. If you’re a reloaded, load up your spent brass. Double check zeroes with a boresight if you have one. Sharpen and home any knives. I only one rifle I keep ready as a secondary home defense gun, so it’s the only one I keep batteries in the optic. My other rifles/pistols that are equipped with active scopes/sight/lasers usually have the batteries removed to prevent the slow discharge/drain, so checking the battery life/function, and consider leaving them in place for the duration of this crisis. Organize/sort/clean your maintenance and cleaning supplies. I’m a bit obsessed (anal) about everything having it’s place, and in making sure it’s remains that way. Reloaders can sort, clean and maintain their reloading supplies/tools/components.
    The firearm related activities we can do during this crisis are limited only by our imagination. The three listed in the article are a good start, but there are many more.

    • Our kids are grown adults now, and I miss the good ‘ol days of stepping on Lego pieces around the house, sending a zing(!) up your foot and through your thigh. To alleviate cabin fever, I now amuse myself by leaving .22LR around the family room floor (always best at hallway corners and doorways) and hearing my wife yell out “colorful metaphors” in my direction as she finds them underfoot.

  16. Last time I looked 65 dead out of 330,000,000 in the United States. If you painted their heads orange and stood them in a crowd of 330,000,000, in a group, you wouldn’t be able to pick them out of an aerial photo.

    • The possible fatalities – could be as high as 1% of those actually ill from it, not just showing positive but probably won’t be – aren’t the problem with this sucker, it’s the progression and length of the symptoms. As good as our health care system is and it is (as opposed to the problems with the cost of health care INSURANCE) we’re not ready, with equipment, technicians, bed space, etc…for thousands and thousands of people needing a respirator to stay alive all at the same time. Other similar viral infections have a much lower fatality rate, last a shorter length of time and, basically, when they do kill you, do it much quicker. The upside is the infected are at their most contagious after they display the symptoms so we can isolate the outbreaks and starve this thing out. Maybe. Theoretically. Hopefully.

      • Pretty much exactly what I am seeing currently. Fatality rates are still being determined but guessing lower single digit of infected. The problem is possibility of way more infected than typical to create an overwhelming strain on available resources. At a guess and absolutely a guess so long as logistics chains are not disrupted the lower population density areas should be fine. With that said be ready for stupid.

      • Phiiif. I started dying the day I was born. So did everyone else. Been a couple of times I thought it was imminent. Never been afraid of it. Didn’t seek it, but I finished raising my children, I don’t give a shit what my ex does, buried Dad last September. Mom’s not far behind. After she’s gone if I woke up dead tommorw it wouldn’t bother me. In the meantime, my sister is staying with Mom for a couple of weeks. If everyone gets stupid I guess I’ll go over there and shoot some looters.

      • The average elsewhere is pushing up towards 3%. Italy is over 7% (but this may be inflated due to under-reported infections Reported infections are about 25,000.)

    • Oh, god, one of those guys… Italy has a fatality rate of 7% as of this weekend. The WHO estimate, which seems a bit of a lowball, is 3.4% of total cases. That’s WITH easily available and not overwhelmed ICUs. Watch Italy hit the double digits as their ICUs are overwhelmed with 3rd and 4th wave cases.

      • Pwrsrge, yeah I’m one of those guys. The first time I really thought I was going to die I think I was twelve. An almost traffic crash. Never worried about it again. I was always afraid of heights. First time I flew in an airplane the army made me jump out of it. I was glad to. I had the worst case of motion sickness ever. Been in harm’s way many times since. Scared? Sure. Afraid of dying? No. Went to the grocery store today. Bought the makings for corned beef and cabbage. Scotts/ Irish decent don’t ‘cha know. (Always the rebel.) Didn’t use their hand sanitizer. Didn’t wash my hands when I got home. Drinking a Guinness Stout now. Fuck corona virus. What’s it going to do? Kill me next week instead of dying a year from from something else? Wooo… I’m soiling my long John’s! Dead is dead. Seen it a thousand times. I’m just not going to let some asswipe do it to me if I have a say in it.

        • I’m less concerned about myself than about others I might infect. I’ll be fine. Under 40, in decent enough shape, no serious systemic medical conditions. Other people may not be so lucky. It’s part of not being a douchebag. The longer I stay healthy, the less opportunity I have to spread the disease to others who may not be as capable of dealing with it. The problem is not that the disease will kill you dead. The problem is that the disease will make you sick enough to die without serious medical intervention. A level of medical intervention no healthcare system on the planet is set up to handle for the probable number of patients involved, even ours.

          So, basically, don’t be a douche.

    • Yeah, funny thing about infections with exponential growth- they look like nothing until they’re not. And by then it’s far, far too late.

      If you get infected now- which is likely, because people can infect you through the air without them showing symptoms, you will start getting sick after about a week. Maybe you can stay at home and just ride it out. But about 20% of tested cases require hospitalization. What’s the real number? Who knows. But it’s a lot higher than the mortality rate that gets talked about.

      So if you’re in that larger number that needs hospitalization, you’re hosed. Because guess what- there isn’t going to be any when this starts peaking. And if our numbers continue to chart with Italy, it’ll happen in the next three weeks. That means a lot of people will not get ventilators or any other advanced medicine. At best they’ll be housed in something called a hospital while they suffocate on dry land.

      In three weeks look back at when you thought 70 deaths was not an issue. Viruses don’t care whether you believe in them.

      • if my wife contracts it she will not likely survive. Being over 65 and with COPD, survival stats are very low.
        I heard today that they will not let you in the hospitals here without a virus scan.And we have had only one case in the whole county.

        • I’m very worried about my parents and my mum in particular. Both are 79 this year. My dad has a pacemaker. My mum has just finished a course of chemotherapy and is going into hospital tomorrow.

          While I’m 50 I’m in good health and often mistaken for someone 10 years younger.

        • My thoughts and prayers are with those who are at high risk to the Kung Flu, and their families.
          Hang tough all.

        • Unfortunately I suspect many of us have people in the very high risk groups that we care about. In Italy these are already the people who are simply not treated. There is not enough supply to meet the surge in demand.

          That’s what I find so maddening about the people who are taking no precautions whatsoever because they assume that they will be fine when they catch it. Not only is that not necessarily true (there are plenty of critical cases and even deaths under 40, just not nearly as many) but I wonder if these people give even one care about anyone else. It’s as though a large portion of the country has decided that it’s okay as long as only old people die.

          I hope those that are happily posting photos of their ‘plague parties’ at crowded bars are made to remember it if they lose someone they love. Because at this point, spreading it as quickly as possible is going to cause much more mortality.

  17. Check check & check. I find dry firing quite boring but do it. Jagoff city about to proclaim a curfew. Goody…today there were conducting seatbelt checks. Today I got the last 2 gallon’s of water at Aldi’s😋

    • I literally got the very last jar of peanut butter on the shelf last night at Kroger. And the very last bulk box of granola bars. They’ve probably put more on the shelf since then, but I’m not seeing any current need today to go back into that madness.

      …but then again, I might walk in to just take pics of the empty shelves and the customers walking around with latex gloves and face masks. My grandkids might be interested in seeing them one day, as proof that this really did happen in my own neck of the woods. If I’m lucky, I might even catch a parking lot brawl on video. I’m only half-joking about that last part…

      • Friday evening the produce dept. in our Kroger had only Brussels sprouts, heads of red cabbage, and fresh ginger root. Plenty of beer and wine, and greeting cards. Not yet any rumbles in the parking lot, although I could see that happening, especially at WalMart down the street. All stores closing early to restock. Saw a dude stuffing cans of gasoline into his trunk. My niece’s boyfriend’s brother is autistic, and they’re about to run out of his favorite mac & cheese, and it’s all been plundered. He eats it nearly every evening, he’s a big guy, and I hope it doesn’t get ugly if they run out.

  18. I’ve got a box of empty .445 brass that needs filling, and is moving up on the list of priorities. Also, the daughter wants me to work on her archery range. Haven’t introduced her to Mr. Wesson yet, so I’m not sure which I want to do first…

    • If I had the space at my place to set an archery range that’s what I would work on first. It’s a fun, family friendly activity that gets you outside.

      • Plus it is nearly silent and of the neighbors can’t see it they’ll never know. I regret that my bow is in storage 250 miles away.

  19. Dont laugh at dishwasher idea. In army the only way to get an m14 “white glove clean” after we had to shoot blanks with adapter was hot soapy water. Get parts hot enough for the heat to dry them. Caution..it takes every bit of lubes off.

  20. Build more guns, parts in the mail and build, build away, that and reload ammunition ,build up your stock.

  21. Which is more deadly — Covid-19 or Chicago?

    As of March 13, virus deaths in the US = 41.

    As of March 8, Chicago murders = 85.

    So, my fellow Americans, don’t travel unless you must, and even if you must, don’t travel to Chicago.

    The only good thing one can say about Chicago is that you can’t being it home with you.

  22. Shoot. Reload. Rinse and Repeat. Shooting 1000yd steel range Wednesday. Skeet Thursday and 100yd BR either Friday or Saturday depending on if they cancel Saturday match or not. It is indoors after all.

  23. In terms of burning time I have more than enough to do rebuilding a 1993 Jeep XJ in my garage.

    Sometimes you find things in tearing apart an old vehicle that make you laugh, cry or want to scream. Some people shouldn’t be allowed to own a car nevermind actually “work” on one.

      • I call him “Bubba”. He is indeed everywhere.

        One day I’ll find him and kick him in the shin for running 3″ and 4″ deck screws through the floor pans of this poor thing. But Bubba needed to secure wiring for his sub-woofer (that he never managed to get installed). That came before doing things “right” or silly shit like “maintenance”.

        I mean, differentials run forever without oil, right? Same with engines. Coolant, dafuq is that? “Break job” or “leaf springs”? Poor people shit. A rockin’ sound system is way more important.

  24. I just got back from the gun range today. And there are quite a number of people there training. Including a family with her three children.
    A laser trainer for home Trigger Time Training in dry fire, looks like it might be in my future.

  25. One pro tip… while a normal N95 face mask will do jack shit to protect you a good ‘ole M50 will do just fine. You might look a little odd grocery shopping in full MOPP gear, but if I was over 50, I wouldn’t leave the house without it.

    • Contrary to the WHO’s bizarre ideas that N95 masks protect doctors but not normal people, they do a much better job than nothing.

      An n99 or n100 mask is better. Plus eye protection.

      • The lack of eye protection is the big one. Also, most people don’t know how to use those masks properly. One of the reasons why I’m hunkering down and just riding this one out. We’ll see just how paranoid I was a month down the road.

        • “The lack of eye protection is the big one.”

          Swimming goggles…

        • i want to shop at cermak and valli with face gear because it sounds fun. we also have morelia, but we call it malaria. well stocked, no arguing.

        • “Swimming goggles…”

          they’ll work. Really anything to stop droplets so even basic sports glasses that wrap around a bit are probably good.

          As to masks, I’ve had the n95/100 training. It’s not as tough as officials and the media are making it out to be. You can look up how to check your seal on youtube and be around the same place training-wise that the medical staff using them are. The issue is that the WHO, CDC etc want you to think that the masks are worthless so you don’t want one. Because they aren’t exactly readily available.

    • I’m unsure as to why people aren’t just running P100’s.

      They are/were easily available from a place like Home Depot. In fact, they’re usually the most common respirator filter that they sell. Those cheap 3M pink circles with twist to lock attachment are P100 rated, oil and flame resistant, dirt cheap and around me basically the only the “other options” start gas/vapor filtration or are a dust mask.

      I have a ton of them from back when I was working as a welder.

  26. Exercise. Try to eat and sleep well. The reality is that this is so communicable and we have no immunity. Everyone is probably going to get it in countries that did not act quickly (we didn’t). But you can try to be healthy in advance and try to avoid getting it all at once.

    High blood pressure is an indicator of poor prognosis for patients with this. Obesity is as well- to the point where it’s one factor where, in places where it’s already hitting hardest, you will get triaged out if you’re fat. The young fit guy that needs the respirator gets it first, because they figure he has a better chance of surviving.

      • False. There is an immune response to COVID19 that is happening in otherwise healthy fit young people (men more than women). It’s rare but when you have such large numbers being infected it’s still enough to overwhelm hospitals.

        Generally what happens is that you get sick, your lungs get messed up, but then you start getting better. Then a few days later you absolutely crash with ARDS. It appears to be cytokine storm or a similar immune syndrome. In these cases it isn’t a lack of immune system that kills you (i.e. elderly), it’s an overly strong one.

        • So the fit guy is dying because his system is to fit. The old guy is dying because his system ain’t fit enough.

          The end result is they both died. But the young guy was fit when he died. Gotcha.

    • Yep. effective at midnight tonight. And it touched off even more panic buying at the stores. A lot of people got sent home from their jobs. I hope they can get some unemployment or something. My wifes school district is closed at least until April 7.

      • $1,000 for every American (adult and qualified). Sounds like a plan. Don’t care who passes it or why, they need to do something instead of forcing employers to pay forced sick leave that could potentially bankrupt them. We print money for the fuck of it anyways, what another 1% tax increase to 39%…

    • It’s pretty fucken real, but that said, they are about to start passing some shit under the radar and fuck that mess. Perfect time to show up at their doorstep.

  27. If we actually get the gift of two or more weeks off, here’s a list:

    1) Make a project list, accomplish one project every day.
    2) Make an exercise and flexibility list, accomplish one set in the AM and one set in the PM.
    3) In the event at least two meals a day aren’t well-balanced, dip into vitamin inventory to maintain levels of B, C and D, all of which are immune boosters and illness fighters. Drink juice and water to support health.
    4) Limit reading about coronavirus in favor of checking preparedness inventory and rotation especially including batteries for flashlights, red dots, sights of all kinds and if you’re fortunate enough to have NVG or thermal, then those too. Have them somewhere useful if miscreants with time on their hands come calling.
    5) Limit calls and discussions about coronavirus in favor of checking physical security and making additional security ready at hand.
    6) Clean and lube everything has already been covered but certainly a project for one (or more) days.
    7) Review layers of defense and review with family or friends who are sheltering with you.
    8) Review serious hygiene protocols if anyone – anyone – is in contact with others. We are nearing the explosive growth phase. You’ve stored masks and gloves. This is one of the times to use them.

  28. Please do NOT tell beginners to load all their magazines and then in the next paragraph tell them to dry fire. There will be some Yahoo who will unintentionally discharge their firearm.
    Please dry fire with Snap Caps or equivalent in your magazine.
    Some firearms require a magazine inserted to dry fire.
    Also do not have loaded ammunition on the same table when cleaning your firearm.
    Basic firearm Safety here.
    Be Safe, knowledgeable, and enjoyable with Firearms.

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