Daily Archives: 12/15/2012

Gear, Training

Getting Caught Up.

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When it comes to AR’s, don’t get caught up in the little things.  It’s not about what you have on or in your AR.  It’s about what you can do with it.
Imagine a simple tool belt, much like what any Handi-Man might have.  A Hammer, Screw Drivers, a Saw, a Measuring Tape and a Pencil.  It doesn’t matter what company these tools came from.  You give them to a skilled man, he can build you whatever you need.  A Shed, a Dog House… a set of cabinets. Fix a shelf.  He will get the job done.
Give that same tool belt to one with no skills, and you will be lucky to get a Bird House out of him.  He is not competent enough to take on the big projects.  The quality of the tools, the perfection of the craftsmanship is lost on him.  Even if he payed high dollars for the very best tools available.

What’s important about the Tools themselves… and we all get caught up in the tools… is that they work. You can argue Craftsman, Snap-On, or Stanley… The Contractor’s Client doesn’t care a bit about that.  His concern is only the results.

When you seek to dress out your AR, make sure you are not just dressing it up.  Putting on Bling for looks or to impress your friends is meaningless.  Instead only worry about what you really need to get the job done.  To know what you really need, you need to use some thought.  Not just looking through a catalog or browsing the shelves at your LGS.  Buy what’s going to help you use the tool.  The AR-15 is just that, the simple tool.  You can enhance it with some upgrades.  Grips that allow your hand to fit better for better control… Stocks that fit you better… Optics that allow you to line up your target faster and more precisely.

Guys, don’t ask me what you need.  Ask yourself.  Go to the range, shoot and move, take a Tactical Carbine Course and see for yourself what it is that you need for you and your gun.

Automotive

Winter Ride with Moose Ears.

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Okay, so the KTM is so far doing just fine in the snow. Save for the small “Endurance” LCD dash/trip computer… which died on me. So I have no speedo or Odometer… which is no big deal.
The bike handles as I expected it too in the snow, or even a little better.  This is what I like about the KTM, the stability.   Other bikes, when they lose traction, just seem to say “Oh to hell with it.”  The KTM seems to fight to find traction anywhere.  Standing on the pegs, you can just let the bike squirm around under you, hunting for some grip.  The cold didn’t even bother me.  Thanks to the combo of the moose-ears and the long johns, it’s not so bad.

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This is a case of “If it’s stupid, but works, then it isn’t stupid.”  It looks stupid.  But it works.  Very well.  Normally on my ride to work I’ll lose feeling in my hands even before half way there.  Now, it’s not a bother.  The Moose Ears are actually my name for them… they are actually ATV Handlebar Mittens from an outfit called “Classic” that makes lots of ATV stuff.  Never thought I’d buy anything from them, as I don’t have an ATV.   But I was lookinat the ATV area of Basin Sports and was straightening things out there and I had this set that was the last pair and kinda in the way.  I thought “Hell, I should just buy them to get rid of them.”  And then I thought, “Hell yeah, I should buy them!”  The Mittens look like Moose Ears, so that’s what I call them. They are a huge help.   I’d rather have a set of Hippo Hands, as they are made for Motorcycles. These Classics are made for ATV’s. There is a difference. But the Moose Ears cost me 10 bucks, so I’ll call it good.

I am optimistic about my chances of surviving the Winter now. Every other Rider that I know of has now parked it for the remainder of the season. I am the only one left on two wheels that I’ve seen in the last week. I think I’m kinda nuts here… but then again, if certain things hadn’t happened that did happen, what would have happened was that would be driving a 2006 F-150 Crew Cab right now. Black. With a lift. Four Wheel Drive. And a heater. Oh well.