NOTRE DAME BURNS

I'd barely finished shooting when news came in that Notre Dame de Paris, perhaps Europe's most beautiful medieval cathedral, was on fire, flames had engulfed the building. 

First thoughts first, the Jihad did it, striking a blow against the Crusaders, if only they were, in the heart of the Frankish kingdom.

But no, ISIS hasn't claimed responsibility, which they would if they were in on it, what a triumph for the Jihad. Who then? A careless builder, throwing a half smoked Gauloise down on the tinder dry frame of the great church's roof? Perhaps.

Anarcho-Marxists, sticking it to the hated Man a few days before Easter? Conceivable. But who really stands to gain from such a disaster. 

What about Macron, who now gets to rebuild the "soul of France" and become a hero saviour at the very point of looking down the blade of a hi-viz guillotine.

Whatever the case, stand by for photo evidence of "yellow vests" setting light to the cathedral and in the meanwhile, thank God the church is still standing and its treasures safe. Apart, of course, from the  priceless irreplacement of it all.

Speaking of price, who insures Notre Dame? And while you're following the money, I'll tell you this. 

Do not, I repeat, do not mess with the Blessed Virgin Mary or you will be relentlessly destroyed.

Your Friend,

LSP

Holy Monday Shoot

The sun shone, rising incandescent over the chicken operation, and you could hear Maria singing to her ravenous birds while peacocks shrieked. A good day to be alive in Texas, a good day to shoot. 

Compound Sun

CC swung by from the metrosprawl, he wanted to test out his Winchester 1200 pump and I wanted to see if the new extractors I'd pinned into a Mossberg 835 lived up to their name. So off we went to the range with a truckload of guns. Holy Monday style.

Guns

Long story short, the 1200 didn't really work. Sure, it started off well enough, then decided it didn't want to feed or shoot when you squeezed the trigger. CC, word to the wise, lose that weapon or hang it on the wall as a keepsake. 

The Mossberg worked well enough, though three shells out of 60(?) failed to extract, the last being shooter error. So maybe a bit more attention's needed in the armory department.

CC, Lose The 1200

Then it was time for 20s. CC knocked a few clays outta the sky with a single shot something from Brazil. I call it "Old Bolsanero," for some reason, and we moved thankfully onto a CZ. Just a lot of fun to shoot, quick, dead on, light and easy on the shoulder. Stylish too, if you like a SxS.

A Couple of 20s

And go figure, we both smoked a lot of clays, hurled into the air redneck style with a plastic thrower. I'd like a machine, to be honest, but saving for a new rig and lever guns takes priority. All in good time.

Check it Out, Tejas

I tell you, this last few months have been all about shotguns. Remedial for me and a reminder of the sheer enjoyment that's to be had from blasting away at flying targets. And I have to say, again, that I'm a total convert to the 20 and, for that matter, doubles. OK, late in the game, LSP, but whatever.

Your Old Pal. Don't be a Narcissist, LSP

Shotgunnery over it was .22 plinkerthon time and what's wrong with that? Nothing at all, and it keeps your aim in on a Holy Week budget. Great fun, courtesy of Ruger and Remington, but news started to filter through to the range. Notre Dame was on fire.

Rig

Serious business, it was time to head back to the Compound.

Gun rights,

LSP