Case Trimmers?

Well, the Brown Truck of Happiness has delivered my RCBS "Rock Chucker" kit, along with the dies and other goodies I bought, BUT I still need a case trimmer.

Seems like there's quite a few choices out there, and I'd rather go with suggestions from my friends out here that have the experience I still lack.

Since we won't be getting back until Sunday, I still have plenty of time to order one and have it waiting for me.

Recommendations, suggestions, and actual use reports are welcome and greatly appreciated!

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GROAN.....Endless Meetings!

Even though the launch went fine, we still have to do all the debriefs, and go over "Lessons Learned", and play various "What If...." scenarios.

One of the Lessons Learned was something I've been harping about for some time now.

One of our telemetry receivers shut down at about L-3 hours due to an over temp condition. While others were agonizing over "What Do We DO!?!", I grabbed my Surefire G3 and went around to the rear of the rack.

Sure enough, the filter on the cooling fan was PACKED full of crud. After getting approval from the system owner, I pulled the fan, slid the filter out, blew it out with canned air, and put everything back together.

I was finished, and the receiver was back receiving, about 15 minutes before the Official Committee To Find Out What Happened came out of the conference room.

They were stunned I had it "fixed" so fast.

And then I pointed out that I'd been telling TPTB for several years that little things like this will cause a launch abort one of these days. If this had happened an hour or so later in the count, there's a good chance we would have scrubbed the launch, at a rather HUMUNGOUS cost compared to the value of the fan, filter, and whole damn receiver.

At least I wrote down all the information on the label on the fan so we can order some spares. Spare fans like this probably cost $10~$15, and are readily available.

They interesting thing is that we just got these receivers back from a "Full Calibration, CLEANING, and Adjustment" from a factory authorized service center!

And they charged us about $1500 EACH to go through these old codgers and "certify" them.

I'm willing to bet there'll be just a few phone calls made over the next few days.........

Yep, It Worked Again

Successful launch, and I tracked it over the horizon.

Next up is an upper stage burn, then spacecraft separation.

But since my job is done, and I have to go over and tear down and stow equipment tomorrow at 0800, I'm going to bed!

Goodnight, all.........

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L- 2 Hours, 30 Minutes, and Counting.....

And we are GO to begin fueling the launch vehicle!

Launch will be streamed live on USTREAM.

L-8 Hours and Counting.....

Tonight's launch of Intelsat-21 will be available for viewing at the Intelsat website.

I spent 14 hours over on the Launch Platform yesterday getting antennas aligned and working through some "issues" we had.

They've NEVER "problems", even though they are, but rather "issues".

I'm sure you all know the drill!

Enjoy the launch if you're up that late!

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Firefly

Since we've been delayed 24 hours, I've been watching the Blu-Ray discs of "Firefly".

I watched "Serenity" a couple of months ago, and now I wished I would have waited until I'd watched the series.

It was a stunningly good series, and highly underrated while it was being aired.

I just finished the first disc, having watched the first 5 episodes, and I'm up to where River has finally stated speaking to the other crew members. I particularly liked the way she "charmed" Badger.

And sweet little Kaylee has started showing some open signs of her infatuation with Simon.

I've had these discs for a couple of years, and just now got around to watching them.

I don't believe I wated so long to watch such a well-made series.

We've Arrived......

At the launch site, that is.

We're starting L-3 operations so I'll be pretty busy the next few days.

Launch is set for August 17th at 2356PDT.

More info can be found at the Intelsat website.

CUL!

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Obama Whines Michelle Doesn’t Collect Salary As First Lady

Good Lord above!

What doesn't this poser of a "president" want now?
Isn't it enough this POS has almost single-handedly destroyed the American economy, put our great grandchildren in hock, and made a laughingstock out of us?

If we don't get this unprintable piece of SHIT out of office, along with a good chunk of his crooked, communist cronies in November, our beloved Country is surely doomed.

To borrow a phrase from wirecutter:

FUCK OBAMA!

Read about it here, at Freedom Outpost.

RCBS "Rock Chucker" Ordered

I received an email from Midway that I had some special "Birthday Deal" pricing available, so I looked over what they had for relaoding gear, and then ordered the Rock Chucker kit, and some accessories.

I bought three die kits, in 45ACP, 357 Magnum, and 30-30 Winchester, some "decapping pins", an internal/external deburring tool, and a primer pocket cleaner.

The total, with shipping and an NRA "Round Up" contribution, came to $430.

I'm sure I'll be spending more, as I'd like to get a digital scale, sets of dies for 30-06, 308, and 40S&W, and probably other things that I'm sure I'm going to need!

AND I'll need some case cleaning supplies, too.

What do you guys use for cleaning your cases? One of the tumbler/vibrator types with various media, or do you do the "wet" cleaning with commercial cleaning solutions like I've read about? I'd think the tumbler/vibrator types would be easier, as you don't have to worry about flushing out any chemicals from the cleaned cases, and then drying them.

So, I still haven't gone over the $600 self-imposed "limit" I told my sweet little wife I'd hold myself to.

And I'm studiously reading the "ABCs of Reloading", and the "Modern reloading" books I brought with me.

I doubt if I'll ever try to work up "special" or "match" loads on my own. I'd rather just stick with the published loads, and use this gear to get my shooting costs down to where I can go out more often. The ammo cost isn't a big factor now, but that could change at any time.

Hmm.....probably ought to start looking at getting some primers and powder, too......

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ouch, Ouch, OUCH!

OOPS.....had a minor accident today at work.

It's been drizzling out here, and when I was outside, coming back from an equipment space with no inside access, I slipped and fell.

Now, I'm *always* careful onboard, and even when we're tied up at the dock back at our Home Port, I use BOTH handrails when traversing the stairs, or 'ladders' in ship-speak.

I was two steps from the bottom, holding both rails, when my feet went out from under me.

BOOM! All 200 pounds of me came crashing down on a wet, steel deck, from about three feet in the air.

I landed on my right hip, just aft, and bit below, of the big pelvic bone. Took me a couple of seconds to realize HOLY SHIT, I'M ON THE DECK! and get my bearings again.

Two marine crew members came over, helped me up, and asked if I wanted to go up to the hospital. I shook myself a bit, and decided nothing was broken, so I told them no, and in a bit of a daze, went back to the EGSE room where I normally work.

My at-sea Manager (a good guy) was there, and after I told what had happened, he sent me to our Safety guy to file a report. The Safety guy wrote everything down, inspected my shoes to make sure they were "approved" (they're non-skid) and said going to the ship's Doctor was my call, but he recommended it.

So, back up to the 3rd bridge deck, and into our little hospital. I talked to the Doctor, and then he gave me an exam, and asked a bunch of questions. At this point, it doesn't look like I broke anything (I've broken stuff before, and believe me, I would have been screaming bloody murder while laying on the deck when this happened!), but I have a huge bump (pardon me, "Hematoma" in med-speak) on my hip almost the size of my fist, and he says I'm going to have one doozie of a bruise in a few days.

Now since we're scheduled to launch on the 17th, that means I have to go over to the platform on the 16th to set up a bunch of equipment. Thankfully I get to go on the helicopter, and the helipad is on the same level as our equipment shelter. The only problem at this time is I have to climb a ladder carrying my tool bag up to the top of the shelter, and if I'm not limber enough to do it...............

For now, I'm just going to take it easy, and try and keep somewhat mobile, because if I sit down for more than about 15 minutes, it's kinda hard to get back up.

And I haven't told my dear wife yet........

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Decisions, Decisions.....30-06, or 308?

Well, I'm about *this close* to ordering an M1 Garand from the CMP.

I'm going to get one of their "CMP Select" grades, that's pretty much been remanufactured, with new wood, but one naggling little choice remains.....

Do I order one in "period correct" 30-06, or go with the more "modern" 308?

I've read up on the ballistics of both, and while they're fairly similar, they each have their strengths and weaknesses.

My thinking is that if/when the Schumer hits the fan, 308 might be a tad easier to come by than 30-06.

What say you?

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