Both versions of “True Grit” are now on Netflix. The classic version with John Wayne, and the new one with Jeff Bridges.
After reviewing them both carefully and considering everything… I’ve come to the conclusion that new version is indeed the better movie. Better casting, acting, directing, and it’s more realistic. John Wayne plays a great John Wayne, but Jeff Bridges absolutely becomes Rooster Cogburn. Hailee Steinfeld plays Mattie Ross brilliantly, and upstages both veteran actors. She is amazing and adorable… unlike the original version’s Mattie Ross, who was completely annoying throughout. Better violence, harsh and stark, the way it should be. A better ending too. And the new version has the ultimate creature of nightmare making… The Bear Hat Man.
Lever Flavors
In one of the comments was the question… What Caliber for a Lever Gun?
This depends on the purpose of the gun. For just having fun, for defense, or for hunting big game? Really it comes down to a Rifle Caliber or a Pistol Caliber.
For a Rifle caliber, you have .30-30, .35 Remington, and .45-70.
For a Pistol caliber, you have .357, .44, .45, or .44-40.
Each option in either category has it’s following. For plinking and defense work, a pistol caliber will do just fine. The .357 is mild and most of those rifles can also run .38 Special. Loaded hot, .357 magnum can be a beast from a rifle barrel… making it just fine for any big game you want to take a bite out of. For defense it’s probably ideal. If you are going to let kids or delicate womenfolk who think they are too sensitive for anything stout shoot your gun, load those .38 Specials and it’s a pussycat.
Stepping up, I really like the .44 option. I’ve killed a lot meat with .44 Magnum out of a 16″ barrel and it’s a bigger push than .357, but very manageable and you can still shoot it fast. With full house loads I’ve made accurate hits out to 400 yards. With Cowboy Action loads, really downloaded lead heads, it’s spot on at 100 yards. I’d have to put an optic on it to really get the accurate out of it that the gun is capable of. But I don’t want to do that. Yet.
I’ve not been impressed with .45 Colt, and .44-40, while a great round, is not one I’ve spent any real time with… only a box or two over the years.
In the rifle options, you can take the biggest game in North America. The .30-30 is the classic and will do most anything you want unless you are Bear Country.
.35 Remington does better on bruin and elk, but has no popularity in the wide open western spaces. A great option for timber country. It shoots much like a .30-30 but does so with a bigger heavier bullet. It’s a personal favorite as well, but in Utah they are as rare as hen’s teeth. Hitting with a bigger bullet is always preferred over hitting with a small bullet – when it comes to making loud noises and breaking things.
That leaves .45-70 Government… the authority… the big stick. It can drop anything in North America that has a heart beat, but has some dramatic thump to it… I like the .45-70 a lot… and from recent posts, you guys already knew that.
So for general use and flexibility, I’d probably say a .357 Magnum is the one to go with. This was the original caliber I was looking for in a Rossi Lever with a 16″ barrel. Waited a year for the .357 before I gave up. But I am glad I did, because I am truly loving the .44 Magnum. For a tactical, defensive type rifle or a plinker to have fun with… I don’t think the .357 option can be beat. If you can find one.
What? Huh? Say Again?
At the shop I work at, we wear 2-Way Radios and use ear pieces. This made apparent a problem was aware of, but didn’t know just how much of a problem.
If I put the earpiece in my right ear, I can turn up the volume and it’s just fine. If I put my earpiece in my left ear, I can’t hear anything unless it comes over the radio. I am dang near completely deaf in my right ear. I knew I had some hearing loss in it… but it’s a lot worse than I ever realized.
If I had to attribute this to any one thing… it’s 5.56mm NATO and me not wearing good earpro while shooting it.
This has caused me a lot of grief that last couple of years. Misunderstandings and such… Angry wife who was talking and I didn’t know… things like that.
Guys, you don’t want this.
Please… If you don’t keep a set of Earpro in your Range Bag, put a couple sets in there. Good Muffs and some plugs. If you are shooting with a young one, let them use the muffs and protect their hearing. Get some Earpro, mark them as yours, and throw that in with your gear and never shoot without it. Same with Eyepro. It’s not worth what you’ll lose if you don’t.
The Armed Nation: Episode 2
Rossi M92 Carbine .44 Magnum
I’ve spoken of it before… You guys know I have this little .44 Mag Carbine, an M92 Rossi. It’s a simple Winchester 92 Clone. Short 16″ barrel, lever action, really light and fast handling. Super smooth thanks to multiple Slipstream applications. It’s like melted butter on butter.
Shooting it, it is dead nuts on using 240 grain loads, specifically cowboy action loads, at 100 yards. With 180 grain full house magnum loads, it hits like 4 feet high at 100. Which actually puts it on for longer range shooting. 300 yards is very doable with this gun. Shooting the cowboy loads, it’s a pussycat. Real mild and pleasant. It’s fun. You break the shot, feel and hear the bang, and then… and then… you see and hear the impact of that 240 grains of lead smacking the target. Hard.
It’s a blast. So much fun, I could have gone through several boxes of shells in it… but I was being sparing with my ammo. I am not yet ready to start reloading here.
I have to say that right now, at this moment, the M92 Carbine is my favorite rifle.
Rick
So just who is Rick Santorum? What has he done to make him qualified to be president?
I want to hear from people from his home state… You guys tell me. I want to hear from first hand sources.
I know he’s conservative and pro second. That’s it. Now he’s a front runner.
Iowa Caucus.
I have a big problem with the Republican Caucuses. A lot of people who showed up had no Party Affiliation, or affiliations with parties other than the GOP. If this is a GOP Party Caucus – the only people voting should be members of the GOP, and I’d even go so far as to say Dues Paid, Card Carrying Members.
Letting these Primaries be open like they are – Non-Republicans are picking the Republican Candidates. And no one in the GOP has a problem with this? This is why we had McStain last time!
Ruger’s New Guns.
Ruger has announced a couple new guns. Let’s take a look at them.
The new “All American Rifle”. Link Here. I don’t have anything good to say about this one. Congratulations Ruger, you just made a Savage Axis. Bravo. But 10 bucks says the Savage has the better barrel. Hopefully the stock is more rigid… more like TC Venture. Hopefully it wont get a Recall like the TC Venture either.
The new SR-22 .22LR Pistol. Link Here. If it’s one thing Ruger has always done well, it’s making .22 Rimfires. Rifles and Pistols. Now, while this pistol looks a lot like a Walther P22 and Ruger has made an industry out of other people’s designs… (Just like the Soviets!) this SR-22 is a apparently, shockingly, a new design. Given Ruger’s Rimfire history, I’d expect this pistol to be a good one. Iffy trigger, but otherwise it should be solid, it will also probably have a reasonable retail price so it is one I’m looking forward to seeing. Considering all the other Tactical .22 Pistols out there… The Walther P22, SIG’s Mosquito, and others… This will be a welcome new seat at the table. Because right now, the Ruger Mk III pistols, Browning Buckmarks, Beretta NEOS pistols and the new ATI-GSG and SIG 1911 .22’s are the only Semi-Auto .22lr pistols worth buying. That’s a thin selection. I wish Ruger all the best with this one.
US vs Iran.
Iran looks like it wants to tussle. The US is more than game. Iraq was more of a threat, and we rolled them in a matter of hours. Iran will take less time. Unless we station troops and move in and try to set up housekeeping.
I’d suggest a blitzkrieg, sink their ships, demolish their military assets, and all of their suspected nuke sites… Then get the Hell out of dodge before the dust settles.
George Bush’s big folly was the Mission Accomplished sign while we still had boots on the ground. Let’s not relive that mistake.
Take all US Forces in the Stan, get them ready to roll… Then wait for Iran to blink first. The moment they twitch, nail them. Follow Sun Tsu’s advice. Hit them first, and hit them so hard that they can’t hit back. Don’t look at the explosions, just walk away. Done. Then when China talks Shit, we can just crack our knuckles and grin.
Uprising: Italia.
Uprising has a new book. Uprising Italia, by Zach Hill.
This is a part of the Uprising Universe, picking up at about Day 4 in the time line, giving a different perspective to the story’s big picture.
You’ll love the Ending!