'DOOMSDAY CLOCK' @ 5 to Midnight.-Alarm-Clock for Preppers?

The Bulletin of The Atomic Scientists still maintain the 'Doomsday Clock' - as an indication of just how close we are to destroying ourselves by misuse and abuse of our dangerous technology.

 

 The worst recorded risk setting (of 2 minutes before..) was in 1953 - when both USSR & USA were hurriedly testing every nuke that they could throw together. - The 1962 'Cuban Crisis' came and went so suddenly that the Governing body and its18 Nobel Laureates had no time to change the clock!

 

Yup - they keep it ticking away - over all those years since 1947 - you can find it on 'Google' .

Some years back when tensions between the main power blocks seemed to be at a peak - our media - mainly newspapers and Television news services - used to head-line the status of the Doomsday Clock - but now that the 'free market' Newspapers and TV have been reduced to puerile repetitions of 'Soaps', 'Sitcoms' and 'Reality TV' - they don't appear to have the room to squeeze-in anything useful between the 'Ads'- the horoscopes and 'program guides'.

 

                       Doomsday Clock Graph - 1947-2012. - The LOWER the graph
                                              - The closer to catastrophe.

I don't suggest that you check this every few minutes ! - but it would be sensible to have a look now and then - maybe so you can decide on how much to spend on the kids Christmas presents.

The "clock" doesn't just measure the threat of nuclear disaster or war - but also includes minor stuff like 'Global Climate Change'.  - Currently it shows five before midnight ..

 " - never mind, mustn't grumble eh  - "Junior-Celebrity-Master-Chef-Biggest-Looser-Coro St" is coming-on next"

 -" they've got to cook a 3 course meal while running a marathon playing the bag-pipes dressed as zombies hand-cuffed together and eating maggots.. - should be good eh?"

- The Atomic Scientists do for example point-out that while the Western medias nuclear concerns seem to focus on Iran and North Korea developing  nuclear technology - The IAEA  - International Atomic Energy Authority estimates that there are at least another 20 to 30 countries with that ability, or intent to get their own bomb.

- Please don't chew-down your nails until it hurts - but next time you are passing your local friendly Gun Shop - think about putting-by another brick of .22" rim-fire ammo in reserve.

 - and maybe buying an extra box of matches and some tins of beans at the supermarket - just in case eh.

                                                               Yummie !

It might give you an edge - and anyway you'll save money when inflation kicks-in.

- Life is good.

Marty K

Bullet Proof Glass - used at Range:

When my then business partner and I built our underground gun-shop and shooting range in central Christchurch - he approached an American supplier for samples of bullet-proof glass. - When the glass arrived I was dismayed to find that the heavy consignment had been sent 'freight-forward-charges Air-Freight' and the cost nearly bankrupted the start-up enterprise before it opened!

                                                          Laminated Resistant Glass.

We installed some of the heavy glass in a steel wall in the reception area at the foot of the stairs -where we could check visitors before releasing the steel entrance door - and we and the range guns were protected internally by a wire-mesh and sheet steel cage.

                                         Bullet Resistant Stainless Steel Mesh.

Bullet-Resistant Glass is made from laminations of tempered glass and clear thermoplastic resins such as polycarbonate. - Generally speaking the outer layers of glass flatten the bullet and the plastic layer then absorbs its energy and stops it. The ability of polycarbonate to slow and stop a projectile is directly dependent on thickness of the laminations - sometimes as much as three and a half inches.

I'm pleased to report that our Bullet-Proof glass was never tested other than by being punched a couple of times (Just checking perhaps?).

Polycarbonate is one of the toughest plastics made - but it is affected by exposure to sun light. -Its performance when used in armoured vehicles deteriorates with time and needs to be replaced at intervals.

More recently - clear ceramics are being used to protect military vehicles. Transparent Armour Gun Shields (TAGS) are used to protect machine-guns mounted on armoured fighting vehicles.

              M240 Machine gun Mounted on M1A2 Abrams Tank - Iraq 2005.

Ceramic Plates for body armour - also known as 'trauma plates' are subject to much ongoing development. - One area of active development is the use of small (overlapping?) component plates as the large monolithic torso plates are subject to cracking.

                                                       Ceramic Ballistic Plates.

                                       Shooting Level 2 Bullet resistant Glass.

That stuff works eh!

Marty K

"E-Cat"Banks - Military Style Semi Auto Police Minister

John Banks - currently Member of Parliament for Epsom (Auckland) was yesterday 5th June found guilty in court of filing a false electoral return - a charge that our New Zealand Police had declined to prosecute. The case was presented as a private prosecution but then adopted by the courts system having been found to have merit.

                                            John Banks - ex Minster of Police.
The question is being asked "Why did the NZ Police claim that there was insufficient evidence to bring a case against Banks?".

Perhaps I need to remind readers that from 1990 to 1993 - The Honourable John Banks, Member of Parliament for Epsom was the Minister Of Police.

On November 13 1990, the tragic shooting of thirteen Aramoana residents occurred when local recluse David Gray ran amok for hours firing various guns. The sea-side settlement was isolated by police until Hon. John Banks flew the length of the country with a group of Anti-Terrorist Squad / 'Armed Offenders' Officers carrying H&K MP5 fully automatic sub-machine guns - challenged Gray and gunned him down when he emerged - in a hail of up-to sixty full auto. rounds.

                                               Aramoana Shooting Scene.

The majority of Grays'  13 victims were shot and killed with a small bore (.22") Squires-Bingham s/a "rabbit gun" - but four were found to have been shot with a Chinese Norinco .223" sporting (s/a only) copy of a Russian AK47. (7.62x39mm).

The New Zealand Government was led to believe by the Police and The Honourable Minister Of Police John Banks - that Grays shootings were carried out using an "AK47" (in 7.62x39mm) and as a direct result - a new category of firearm was invented - the Military Style Semi Automatic - MSSA - and guns classed as belonging in this group were virtually banned from public ownership or use.

- Banks has claimed that as a youth he had held at his home - the "machine-gun" ** later used to commit The Bassett Road Machine Gun Murders - when his father had been illegally firing it in their backyard. - His parents were 'colourful' members of the criminal fraternity.

** A Reising M50 .45" calibre sub-machine gun.

Although John Banks has yet to be convicted  (or sentenced) - it is believed that the guilty finding will end the sixty-seven year olds event-filled political career.

Marty K

WASP - Compressed Gas 'Divers' Knife:

Patricia Cornwall - author of authentic crime stories centred around forensic pathology - spins a great tale - so when I read her adventure story about a mysterious corpse that had been seen to collapse in a public place with no obvious wounds or bleeding - but was subsequently found to have massive disruption to its internal organs and to have copiously leaked blood while stored in a body-bag - I was intrigued as no doubt all her readers would be!

 Our fictional heroine later determines that the victim had been stabbed with a "Wasp" CO2 powered 'divers knife'.

                                                     WASP Knife - section view. 

In  USA the Wasp knives are offered both as 'Divers Knives' and as "Military and Tactical" weapons and as suitable for defence against large mammals like bears (or sharks) because it's discharge of 40 - 80 cu.in. of freezing gas is immediately devastating - by causing extreme trauma and freezing of surrounding tissue.

This will no doubt be of only passing theoretical interest to New Zealand readers as our Border Control Authorities will likely have been instructed to prevent the entry of any such item into our crime-free land.

Totally futile of course - because any home D I Y handyman with minimal knowledge of pneumatics  would be able to screw together a CO2 capsule (cartridge) with an air valve and six inches of sharpened small bore steel pipe in minutes - to have the same effect!

                                       Wasp attack on Water Melon.

The 'Wasp' knife works something like a 'Powerhead', 'Shark-stick', or 'BangStick' - names used by SCUBA Divers for various arrangements of modified firearms cartridges mounted on the forward end of a shaft or spear. When the 'shark-stick' is forcefully pushed into direct contact with the body of an aggressive shark - the cartridge is fired (by a static pin) and the full power of the propellant gasses (and any projectile load) is absorbed into the target - destroying organs and surrounding tissue.

                                                 'Bang Stick' from Google.

That's the trouble with technology - once something has been invented or discovered - nobody can dis-invent it or 'wipe-out' that knowledge.

- Think about the current media favourite - the **3D Printed Gun** - It's certainly going to present some new issues for our 'leaders' to worry about - but anyone with a hack-saw and a set of spanners (wrenches) has been able to build a crude firearm for the last couple of centuries - well certainly since steel pipe was produced ! - Think 'Zip-Guns'.

                      3/4" pipe plus a rubber-band and a nail = 12gauge shotgun.

Oh well - if only the useless politicians would give as much thought to controlling and getting rid of their WMD  & nuclear missiles as they do to our small arms. - Flipping Heck - do our rulers seriously think that we believe they are telling us all they know that happened to Malaysian MH370 and all on board?

Marty K
After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

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American Derringer Corp: 10MM Derringer.

Way back in time - when I was earning good money - I had a Glock 20 and a six inch barrelled S&W 610. They were both sweet shooting and accurate guns in 10MM auto and to make a 'set' I had obtained an import permit from the New Zealand Police and brought in from USA an American Derringer Corp 10MM stainless steel double barrelled piece.

I must explain to overseas readers here - if you want to shoot handguns in New Zealand you have to get a 'B' Category endorsement added to the standard Firearms Licence. To get this you have to start with an ordinary licence - then join your nearest Pistol Shooting Club and after six months membership (shooting borrowed guns under supervision) you can then apply for a Target Pistol shooting endorsement. Once that is secured you can buy a limited number of handguns (for different styles of competition) but they must have a barrel length measuring a minimum of four inches.

                                               Short Barrelled Derringer.

The only reason that I was permitted to import the derringer was because I also had a 'C' Category Endorsement on my firearms licence that allowed me to posses restricted weapons such as full-autos or short barrelled handguns - but our police regulations clearly do not allow such restricted collectors weapons to be fired.  Note:- However - the holder of a separate Firearms Dealers Licence may test fire a firearm to determine if it is in working order and a safe condition. (I was a Dealer for some years).

                                         Firing a .357" Magnum Derringer.

- All that accepted - the 10MM Derringer was a lovely wee piece, very well made and a delight to handle in the regulation security of my home. They do come in a wide range of calibres - and of-course there are other makers.

I never have found the 10MM Auto round to be difficult to fire - and have used various loadings in both my Glock 20 and the S&W 610 Revolver. - For overall comfort and economy I settled on a standard load that easily made the IPSC Power Factor but was below the top power loading.

                                           Glock 20 - Comfortable 10MM.

Not being permitted to shoot the wee 10mm Derringer here - I have to rely on overseas reports that this gun is easily used - and recoil is stated as being controllable and comfortable. - I'd think that the low barrel line might result in a straight-back kick, more in-line with the wrist rather than a violent upwards rotation.

                                       Smith & Wesson 610 Revolver.

- Maybe I'm easily pleased - and I am intrigued by technology - but I reckon all the guns shown on this page are really good looking and great to handle, in their very different configurations.

I used to say "why would you want to shoot an antique - when you can have the latest?" - but now I'm getting to be a bit of an antique myself - my attitude has changed !

Marty K

A (3rd!) Look at Black-Powder FLINTS

I really need to say here that I'm not obsessed by black-powder FLINTS - and I don't have any experience flint knapping - or shooting flintlocks.

 - I do have a very nice 'Kentucky' Rifle in .45" calibre and enjoy shooting it - but it's a 'Cap-lock'.

 

That said - I am reading another book on my Kindle about the old-time guns of Americas Western Frontier, called 'Guns on the Early Frontiers: From Colonial Times To The Years Of The Western Fur Trade.'  by Carl P. Russell. - And this very thorough and extensively researched work includes detailed information about FLINTS - which I owe it to you to pass-on !

 - I quote:
" The nodules of flint came from layers of chalk. Pits from which the nodules have been dug are scattered everywhere over the ancient quarry sites. The best flints for use with firearms were quarried in damp weather, and were dried out at a fire before the knapper undertook to work on them..

The author goes on to quote the US Army Ordnance Manual of the day meticulous instructions:

"After the flints are placed in the boxes, all the interstices are to be filled with dry sand, in order to exclude the air from them as much as possible;

and later:
 " Flints should not be placed in the upper stories of a building, but in the basement or cellar, where the air is damp and cool."

So - being aware that those flints from the wreck of The Abervagenny - having been under water for more than 200 years were found to be superior performing - and the US Ordnance Instruction was to keep stores of flints in damp and cool conditions - May I have a guess that it might be worthwhile investigating the use of water soaking or even boiling ? flints to improve their durability ?

                                      Beaver Skin Stretched for curing.

In 1748 the Hudsons Bay Company  'York Factory' would give you 16 gunflints for one beaver (skin). - At Miamis in 1761, an Indian trapper would get 12 flints for one beaver skin - a beaver skin was reckoned to be worth around a dollar at that time. By 1823 the Government price at St. Louis was less than 1/3 of a cent per flint - no doubt influenced by the rise of percussion capped guns.

Good luck - Good shooting - Keep your powder dry!

Marty K

RUBBER BULLETS = NZ Police 'Sponge Round' ?

Way back on January 2nd 2014 - I commented about our NZ Police announcing that they were deploying a new tool - the XM1006 SPONGE ROUND.

- Someone has recently opined that "they" are calling it a "Sponge Round" just to make rubber bullets sound more socially acceptable: - Well no - actually!

Rubber Bullets and their replacement plastic bullets are a whole different kettle of (rotten) fish.

- Rubber Bullets were developed by the British Government in 1970 to use for riot control against the citizens of Northern Ireland during "The Troubles".

                          L3A1 37mm RUBBER Bullet as used in Northern Ireland.

In 1973 the 'Plastic Bullet' or PBR (Plastic Baton Round) was introduced for use by the British Security Forces in Northern Ireland - in an attempt to reduce the number of fatalities from using the original rubber bullets.

                                      PBR (plastic baton round) - Plastic Bullet

By 2005 - 125,000 baton rounds had been fired at the local Irish -mostly plastic rounds - and seventeen people have now been killed by these 'non-lethal' rounds (half of them children) - and all but one, Catholics.

According to Wikipedia a  typical Plastic bullet weighs 131g - whereas the 40mm Sponge Round weighs only 28g.

The original higher-powered rubber bullets were "rubberized plastic around a metal core" weighing 145g and were meant to be aimed at the ground to bounce up into the lower body - but this was largely ignored by the British troops who fired directly into the crowds. - The British Government is reported to have paid hundreds of thousands each to individuals in out of court settlements for the injuries and deaths - thus avoiding the publicity from court cases.

                                NZ Police Picture -Sponge Rounds & Grenade-Launcher.

I don't really like to support the NZ Police use of such 'sponge rounds' against the public - but they are a much milder and lighter weapon to use than "Rubber Bullets".

Marty K

After researching & writing 1,036 blogs I've got something NEW to try .. I've signed-up to Patreon. - In over five years I've not made one cent from this .. NOW you can send me a wee support $ - starting from $1. to get all this stuff from New Zealand - over a year that's nearly the price of one Shooting magazine. - Am I worth it?

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=16618870