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Gratuitous Gun Pic — HK P7 (9mm Para)
In my post about 9mm pistols last week, Readers chimed in about the Heckler & Koch P7 thus:
William O. B’Livion: “No love for the H&K P7?”
And Mike M: “I have a love/hate relationship with the P7. The squeeze-cock action is great in theory, but it aggravates carpal tunnel issues tremendously. No idea why. And it heats up FAST.”
Not everyone knows about the P7, of course, even among my self-identified gun nut Readers, so here it is:
As Reader Mike M. reveals, the P7 is cocked not just by working the slide (which you can do as well) or pulling back a hammer (no exposed hammer, duh), but by squeezing the grip. In addition to his mention of carpal tunnel syndrome, let me say too that the squeezing action — which is severe, as it should be — had the effect of affecting my aiming of the gun; so hard did I have to squeeze the wretched thing that after a while my hand got the shakes from muscle strain. (Bear in mind that this happened after several dozen squeezes — I seldom shoot fewer than 50 rounds when testing a handgun. YMMV.)
My biggest gripe was that the shorty barrel made accurate shooting impossible at any yardage greater than halitosis distance. I know, I know… the P7 is purely a short-range self-defense pistol, not a long-distance target shooter; but I found its strange action to be just that, or else the answer to a question never asked.
Anyway, I later had the opportunity to buy one at a very low price ($150 if I recall correctly), but passed. There are far better guns for the job than this curiosity.
Varmints
This report comes out of Florida, but we face the same issue:
Coyotes have learned to thrive in the same urban development that has caused other predator populations to decline. They can cross bridges, swim canals, and navigate sidewalks while hunting for food.
A coyote’s dream home, though, would be in a suburb like Bloomingdale, where densely packed developments are surrounded by farms and pastureland — a small taste of the open range prairies they used to roam.
In Plano, there’s an abundance of wild rabbits about the place, so where there’s food, there will be predators.
My apartment building lies less than a hundred yards from a heavily-wooded creek, and I must have seen coyotes crossing the road bridge about half a dozen times since I moved here.
This is somewhat problematic because I go for walks along a trail which follows said creek bed for over a mile. Needless to say, I never walk unarmed — I never leave home unarmed, period — and even though coyotes prefer to be out and about at night time or at least dusk / dawn (when I don’t walk), I like the feel of the S&W Airweight in my pocket anyway.
I have a .38 Special shot shell lined up for trigger-pull #1, and hollowpoints for the other four.
(The shot shell is in case I get close to a snake — we have rattlesnakes, cottonmouths and water moccasins in the creek area, and I hate the bloody things.)
Of course, it’s illegal to discharge a firearm in city limits, but I’d rather argue with a judge than be bitten by a rabid coyote or fucking snake. Don’t even mention the chances of encountering some choirboy who might imagine that this fat old man is a ripe target for a little involuntary financial redistribution.
Tragedy
As Longtime Readers may know, one of my favorite stops when I’m in Britishland is Patisserie Valerie, which makes some of the best pastries I’ve ever tasted (along with outstanding croissants at breakfast time). Apparently, quality merchandise hasn’t been enough:
Patisserie Holdings plc announces today that, as a direct result of the significant fraud referred to in previous announcements, it has been unable to renew its bank facilities, and therefore regrettably the business does not have sufficient funding to meet its liabilities as they fall due.
As a consequence, the directors have appointed partners at KPMG as administrators to the company and its various subsidiaries.
The Chairman Luke Johnson has personally extended an unsecured, interest-free loan to help ensure that the January wages are paid to all staff working in the ongoing business.
This Loan will also assist the administrators in trading as many profitable stores as possible while a sale process is undertaken.
Needless to say, stores will be closed and people will lose their jobs.
This after one of its senior executives siphoned money out of the place to support his jet-set lifestyle. And if I could get hold of the asshole, his legal and financial problems would be the least of his problems.
Yes, I take my pastries that seriously.
Crime Update
With all this matrimonial nonsense, I forgot to post an update on an earlier Bad Thing.
Loyal Readers will recall that a few weeks back, Doc Russia’s Doom Wagon was stolen from outside the hospital where he was working.
Among the contents: a semi-automatic rifle, a Glock and his emergency medical bag.
Less than a week later, the Doom Wagon was found undamaged (other than the window broken to gain access). Missing was the medical kit, the Glock and the jerrycans of gas attached to the rear door. The rifle had been undiscovered, and was still in its hidden compartment.
Four days later the Glock was recovered, still unfired, at a crime scene.
Of course, the medic bag was gone (Doc is still hoping the thieves shot up the Lidocaine in their enclosed syringes — it’s mortally toxic when thus administered).
Nevertheless, the Wagon has been completely fixed up and is now in its original condition other than with the addition of various anti-theft devices (which I may not describe for legal reasons).
A round of applause for the Dallas P.D. is called for.
Dumping The Spouse
Here’s a little bit of cheery goodness for you. In the Ultra-Self-Centered Wing of the Museum of Solipsism, you may find this:
One in ten women admit they would DUMP their partner in return for more free hours in the day — as most confess they need an extra 82 minutes every day
2,000 American women aged 18 and over took part in the study, which looked at their average daily routines
The average woman said she needs an extra 82 minutes a day to accomplish everything she wants to get done
If they had more free time, 36% said they would use it to read, and 29% would use it to work out
Over 30% said they have less than 30 minutes to themselves each day
Due to lack of time, half of those surveyed have given up hobbies
22% would use their time to learn a new skill like knitting or photography
How precious. Momma wants more time to improve herself, even after admitting to this:
30 per cent of women would give up social media and TV for more free time
Here’s an alternative statistic for you. If women weren’t so stupidly obsessed with social media bullshit and their appearance, 100% of men wouldn’t leave them.
Or something like that.