A professional illustration of how cameras and lenses aren’t perfect

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Oleg Volk

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2014/02/why-you-cant-optically-test-your-lens-with-autofocus I noticed the same about my own equipment, which is why I use live view focusing with 300/2.8 when practical.

Posted in camera and lens | 1 Comment

Beretta CX4 Storm 9mm carbine

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Gertrude first appeared in my photos almost twelve years ago.

Storm 9mm carbine has little recoil and is easy to configure for left or right hand ejection. One of my friends has an article about it coming up, I will link it once ready.

Primary Arms makes a pretty good compact light for not much money.

 

Posted in interesting people, light/laser, rifle, weapon | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Visiting with friends in Knoxville

Posted on March 18, 2014 by Oleg Volk

One of the kids here brought out her own rifle to show it. The girl is nine and the runt of her age group, but it turns out that the AR15 is neither too heavy nor too complicated for her to operate — contrary to what the know-in-all VP claims. EOTech holosight works great for getting around cross eye dominance.

Posted in interesting people, pink, rifle, self-defense, training, weapon | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

A call for photo props

Posted on March 13, 2014 by Oleg Volk

I’d like to do photos with a few items that aren’t normally available to me:

  • Scooters, similar to Vespa
  • Pre-1970s cars
  • Harps, grad pianos, other substantial musical instruments

Ideally, these would be available in Nashville. I should be able to come up with appropriate models and period outfits, though competent musicians and riders would certainly be welcome. The prop providers would get large prints of the resulting photos.

Posted in advice requested, camera and lens | 12 Comments

New on AllOutdoor: Factory military sporter rifles

Posted on March 10, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Then and now.

Posted in hunting, rifle, weapon | Tagged , | Comments Off on New on AllOutdoor: Factory military sporter rifles

Catching up on editing photos from Switzerland

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Christoph, one of the gentlemen who translated the rifle course for me.

A poster advertising a weapon-themed restaurant

Detail of a cathedral stained glass

Door at the same cathedral

Posted in interesting people, pistol | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

The smallest dragoon

Posted on March 6, 2014 by Oleg Volk

“Dragoons ride to the scene of the battle, then fight dismounted.”

Posted in hunting, interesting people, rifle, weapon | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

New on AllOutdoor: Keltec PLR22 and Crickett pistols

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Two rimfire pistols compared and contrasted.

Posted in pistol | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Black lace

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Oleg Volk

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Low ready

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Oleg Volk

150 year old technology (125 if you count just the 30-30 cartridge) still works pretty well.

Posted in rifle, self-defense, weapon | Tagged , | 19 Comments

Just got back from Pennsylvania

Posted on March 5, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Spent a week with Crickett Rifle company, have many new photos. They also have a very interesting new product in the works to be announced later this year, a logical extension of their expertise in precision manufacturing.

Posted in hunting, interesting people, nature, rifle | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Where 22Magnum excels.

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Oleg Volk

22WMR is hardly an efficient pistol caliber, most of the time. The exception is when it’s used with CCI Gold Dots or other loads made just for short barrels. Then it becomes usable, if not ideal, for self-defense.

The plus side is that 22WMR has minimal recoil compared to 38 Special. So does 32H&R Magnum, but 22WMR ammo is far, far more available and quite a bit less expensive. So this chambering splits the difference between the ideal practice and the useful defensive loads. For somebody who only owns one revolver, that can be a useful compromise.

Holster: Sideguard
Revolver: Charter Arms Pathfinder

Posted in ammunition, holster, pistol, self-defense, weapon | Tagged , , , , | 8 Comments

How to get around censored wifi at Best Western hotel?

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Oleg Volk

These retards are running some sort of “webnanny” and blocking sites I need. Any suggestions how to get around this? I will complain to the management in the morning, but I doubt it would help much. Could change hotels, I suppose…

Posted in advice requested | Tagged , | 30 Comments

New on Alloutdoor: Pepper Blasters

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Kimber Pepper Blasters, pyrotechnic spice projectors.

Posted in self-defense, weapon | Comments Off on New on Alloutdoor: Pepper Blasters

Who borrowed range gear from me in the last couple of years?

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Oleg Volk

In the last two years, I lend a few things out that have not come back. Specifically, two sets of active hearing protection (Peltor Pro and some other, cheaper set), and a “top-break revolver” Crosman .177 air gun. I don’t keep very close track of such items when good friends ask to borrow them, but I do want to have them back eventually. If you recall seeing the items shown below in your possession, please let me know.

Posted in tools | 6 Comments

Computer update: TWO bad power switches.

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Fortunately, a competent friend figured it out and fixed the box by cannibalizing parts from my old case.

Posted in advice requested | Tagged | 2 Comments

Urgent advice needed! Desktop computer won’t turn on this morning.

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Oleg Volk

It had worked fine for several months, now won’t even turn on. Indicator light on the external card reader was on until I flipped the power switch on the back off-on, and now that’s off also. Not sure if there’s some internal reset.

I have to leave for a trip tomorrow morning and have two projects that have to be done today. I can try to do them on my laptop, but there’s a third project requiring files from the main computer that I cannot access. Advice on making this work would be much appreciated.

I tried to reach my competent local friends, no luck. This is a very time-sensitive issue, so any leads on who can help right away would be appreciated. The power supply is 1050W and so I can’t get a local replacement today. Not even sure if that’s the culprit, could be a bad switch — I have no way to test it.

Posted in advice requested, tools | Tagged , , | 10 Comments

Hot lead is better than cold steel.

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Learn to sling it effectively.

Appleseed

Cameo appearance by Tech Sights.

Posted in rifle, rkba, training | Tagged , | 15 Comments

Another Opmod prop: a rifle bag

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Opmod rifle case comes in three lengths, from 33 inches to 43 inches (shown). It’s a basic design, pretty sturdy and decently padded to protect the rifle. Not visible in the photo is a wide shoulder strap.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Opmod knife

Posted on February 21, 2014 by Oleg Volk

Opmod Browning knife.

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