The Wandering Minstrel

I was looking for a miniature gun and this image of a gun-shaped computer mouse came up in the search results. I thought it was kind of funny.

I found what I was looking for, though, in a site called mouseguns.com. There, you can find a link to a catalog of diminutive weapons. The guns are listed with details as to their attributes:

• Lethality
• Volume
• Manufacturer
• Model
• Caliber
• Capacity
• Type
• Action
• Length
• Height
• Width
• Weight

According to the website, “Lethality” is derived from capacity and power:

Lethality = log (capacity) * power

I had not seen a lethality index before, but I found it very intriguing. A table on the page lists ammunition power from 1 for .22 short to 14 for 12 gauge. I attempted to work up lethality for a couple of our favorite guns, but ran into problems when I tried the above equation and got different results. I could get into the same order of magnitude by substituting natural log (initially assumed log base 10) but the results are still off.

Example: The listing for a Glock 26 lethality is 32.26; when using natural log, I calculate 21.58. The capacity is 11 rounds (10+1) and the power listed in the table for 9mm is 9.

Ln(11) = 2.397 * 9 = 21.58

The error between my calculation and that listed is off by about 30 percent. I may try and email the author of the table to see where I’m going wrong (or where he did). I’ll post any findings if and when I get feedback.

I saw an abstract of a study that listed body armor threat level for various firearms, but was not interested in paying to see it. Has anyone else seen a firearms lethality index?

At any rate, I would be inclined to change “Lethality Index” to “Self Defense Potential Index” when it comes to scoring firearms with regard to caliber and capacity. I would also score the projectile type (HP vs. ball, shot vs. slug).

Last month, I changed my subscription to American Rifleman to receive issues on the Internet. I just got the email notifying me that the March Issue was ready to be viewed. All I had to do was click on a link in the email, input my member ID and name plus entering an authorization code which was printed graphically on the authorization web page.                 Clickable image: User Interface.

After using the interface they provide and browsing the magazine, I am glad that I converted to electronic issues for several reasons. First and foremost, I have no magazines stacking up in the garage that have to be sanitized (i.e. shredding personal information printed on the address block) before recycling. Next, All the text can be brought up in a window where I can cut and paste items such as “Armed Citizen Reports” or other text that I would like to share with others via email or on this site. Not the last of a list of nice features is the absence of the binding crease in two-page graphics - you see the whole image sans creases and staples.

I am also a life member in the American Radio Relay League (Amateur “HAM” Radio). I sent an email to them earlier today asking if my monthly copy of QST could be delivered electronically. I am waiting for a reply, but I suspect they do not have the means yet. I cruised their member services website and could not find anything about electronic publication.

Or so I’m told . . .

Happy Birthday George, wherever you are.

When I get Fat Man and Little Boy home for cleanup after a session at the target range, It takes me less than a minute to get both of them field stripped. The Better Half took this image back in 2008 when ammo availability and prices were in their pre-Obamination modes - that is plenty of ammo and prices were reasonable.

I seldom take both Glocks to the range these days. Although I do have some ammo stockpiled, it just seems like we only take a semi-auto pistol or a revolver for each of us and a couple of the shotguns. Now, there is also a problem with the shotgun ammo since the range only allows slugs or double-ought buckshot, which is also quite a bit more expensive than birdshot/target loads.

The good news is that the cleanup job takes less time.

If I were these guys, I’d be wearing ear and eye protection. If I were the guy in front, I’d need gloves to prevent blistering from holding the hot barrel.

Still on the wish list . . .

• Model 1100 TAC-2
• Semi automatic action
• SpeedFeed® IV Stock
• 12 gauge
• 18-inch barrel
• Blasted Black Oxide Finish
• 6+1 Capacity

Under $750 at the Personal Security Zone

The other day, I posted a poster about being prepared. When drjim left a comment on the post, I realized that the photo was missing a couple of the guns that the better Half and I have on the premises. I opened up the safe today and laid them all out for a group photo.

We’ve both got guns on the wish list - some handguns and some rifles. More on that later.

Found on the net while searching for something entirely unrelated. Looks like fun, so I posted it.