12/2/08

I need a better copy editor. Yesterday I mentioned the Baby Eagle 9mm pistol and then thought I'd be all cyber-cool and just abbreviate it the next few times I mentioned it. Well, for some reason I abbreviated “Desert Eagle” instead of “Baby Eagle.” All those “DE” references yesterday should read “BE” instead. I fixed it in my laptop but the rest of the world is stuck with the screw up. I hate that. Anyhoo, I got a call from the gunsmith yesterday asking if I was planning to pick up my carbine that day or later in the week. He’d received the replacement stock and was wondering how much time he had to install it. I said I'd like to pick it up that day if possible. He said he’d have it ready when I got there after work. I printed out some pictures for Larry and Ryan to show them what I'd bought and spent the rest of the day counting the hours until I could leave and go get it. I finally cut out around 1600 h and headed to the gun shop. I called John to ask what his opinion was regarding a good route but he didn’t answer. I planned to take Western Center until it hit Hwy 26 then take that to Bedford Euless Road. Of course as soon as I got to I-35 I changed my mind and took the freeway route. Surprisingly, neither I-35 nor Loop 820 was terribly crowded. Yes, there was traffic on 820 but once I got to the 121 exit I was the only car in sight. Everyone was continuing south on 820 for some reason. I took the… oh, whatever the hell exit that is, and turned right towards Bedford Euless road. As I approached the turn signal, John called me back. I told him, “Never mind,” and ‘splained why I'd called and why it was moo. I pulled into the gun store parking lot and we finished discussing plans for the weekend. Plans, I might add, which will probably change three or four times in the next four days so I'm not carving anything in stone. After we’re though on the phone, I go in and ask for my gun. He brings it out and it is a beauty! Hmm, I guess a picture would help. Here, go to www.atigunstocks.com/products.aspx?category=6&page=1&id=18 then click the “VIEW MORE IMAGES” button and then the right arrow. That’s what my gun looks like now. Aw hells yeah! I buy a couple boxes of ammo and head out to the range. I'm going to shoost this sucker as soon as possible! I call The Shooter’s Club to make sure their range is working, since it was down on Sunday, and they tell me it is and they’ll be open until 1900 h. Well, he said “Seven o’clock,” but I like to be… ok, I was going to say consistent, but then thought someone would call “bullshit” on that. Anyhoo, I head to the range. Since John’s house is between the range and the gun store, I call to tell him where I'm going, just in case he wanted to tag along. I swung by his house to show him the gun if he was still outside shooting pictures of a car, but he wasn’t home. I headed on to the range. We passed each other and he called to say so. I turned back and showed him the gun then went on to the range. There, I bought another twenty rounds of Hornady TAP jacketed hollow point ammo, for self defense, and went in to the range. I loaded up the three Hi-Point clips with the range ammo I'd bought at the gun store and popped one in the gun. I racked the action and lined up a shot. Yeah, the ear muff style hearing protection just ain’t gonna cut it with the carbine. I made due and fired off a clip of ammo into the target. I don’t remember if the first clip was “center mass” or “head” shots but the grouping was acceptable. I had the target at full range and couldn’t see shit through the peep sight but all the shots were within the desired area. I blew through all three of those clips. I had two or three misfeeds and took those bullets, along with five TAPs, and loaded another clip. I fired the RA rounds and then took aim at the tiny little silhouette in the upper left corner of the target to test the TAP ammo. Now remember, I couldn’t line up the peep sight very well with the ear muffs, and the lighting seemed to be shining in a bad way on the ghost ring peep, but I still put three in the tiny dude with only two stray shots just to his right. Not bad, I'd say. No, I have to reiterate that this thing is way more accurate than a $200.00 gun has any right to be. I loaded the remaining RA from the box into two of the clips and filled the third with TAP. I couldn’t remember how many rounds of Federal Hydroshock came with the BE but figured I'd finish off the box of TAP topping off that clip. Turns out I missed it by three rounds. D’oh! Ok, now for the review of the new stock. It looks awesome! It is very comfortable. Now I was wearing a leather jacket so I must withhold judgment on recoil comfort, but it wasn’t bad on initial assessment. The only downside I have seen yet is with the styling bar thingy from the grip to the butt. Although it isn't in the way while shooting, it does make it “difficult” to operate the safety and magazine release. By the way, that word in parentheses above should be pronounced “impossible.” It won’t allow me to rotate my hand to a position where I can reach either with the thumb on my shooting hand. I had to use my “off” hand to work the controls. That was also the main complaint that reviewer had of the Beretta Storm rifle which this stock emulates. Larry asked if that was going to be a problem as well. I guess I'll have to admit it is. I'll fight through it though since I do still have a left hand with which I can operate them and it does look so friggin’ awesome! Well, I'm tired of talking to y'all so I'm going to call it a rant for today. Deal with it.