Your Questions About Gardening

GardenersCardiff answers:

Ok, there are several factors associated with a barrel that can affect accuracy. Some of them are “soft” issues, mean that, for example, a heavy barrel is easier to stabilize and absorbs recoil which help the shooter to operate the firearm more effectively. Others are “hard” issues, where these change in inherent accuracy of the firearm out of something like a rest. Let’s focus on those for a minute. There are a couple of primary ones:

1) Straightness and crown: Barrels are not perfectly straight. Barrels which have inconsistent “crown” at the end of the barrel where the bullet leaves can put small random perturbations in the bullet as it leaves the barrel. Both of these things can lead to inconsistency in how the bullet leaves the barrel, inconsistency is the bane of accuracy.

Why does a heavy barrel change this? Largely because heavy barrels are usually machined to tighter tolerances than normal rifle barrels. In fact, there are extremely well made standard weight rifle barrels which have these same precision level of tolerances and they can shoot extremely well.

2) Heat: When a barrel heats up, a couple of things happen, one it starts to change dimension (mostly elongation) and when it moves the residual stresses in the barrel from it’s manufacture cause the dimensional change to not be straight. Barrel not straight? Back to the inconsistency of the bullet coming out, bad for accuracy.

Why does a heavy barrel improve this? First, because it heats up more slowly. Second because the additional mass of the barrel requires more force to cause it to distort, but the primary direction of dimensional change stays the same, so because of the greater stiffness of the increased wall thickness of the barrel it moves less. Again, other methods – like fluting can increase the surface area of the barrel so it convects off heat faster, and the fluting can also stiffen the barrel to reduce the motion.

3) Vibration and stiffness: Barrels actually flex when you fire a rifle. Basically, think of your garden hose. When you hold it at one end, if you flick it, you can actually watch the vibration you’ve created in the hose propagate down to the end. When that happens the end of the hose doesn’t always end up in the same place. A rifle barrel does about the same thing when the round is fired.

So a heavy barrel is stiffer, which means the vibrations are faster and smaller and the effect is less. There are other ways of doing this – if you can pick a load that creates a “Standing wave” in the barrel, then it will always take the same shape and the bullet will always leave with the barrel in the same position. Hand loaders have been doing this, in some cases inadvertently, for decades. About 10 years ago Browning came up with a neat trick where they created the “BOSS” which was a muzzle break that also allowed for adjusting the location of a calibrated weight at the end of the barrel which can allow you to change the vibration shapes. Lots of people have done something like this as well with just barrel weights that can be adjusted. I’ve attached a link that provides some explanation for this. Http://varmintal.com/atune.htm

So, ultimately, heavy barrels are a pretty classic option and for good reason, but there certainly are others.

Thinkingblade

GardenersCardiff answers:

Besides the splendid suggestions already given [I love the lamp that tiffany provided a link to], here are a few more :

http://myosowonderfulcrafts.blogspot.in/2011/05/50-things-to-do-with-mason-jars.html
http://www.readymade.com/blog/home-and-garden/2011/06/16/10_fun_and_unusual_things_to_do_with_mason_jars
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/handmade-holiday-7-gifts-you-can-make-in-a-mason-jar.html
http://www.curbly.com/users/capreek/posts/10187-roundup-15-awesome-and-easy-diy-mason-jar-projects
http://www.google.co.in/search?client=opera&rls=en&q=fun+crafts+with+mason+jars&oe=utf-8&channel=suggest&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=en&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=1ECYT7irLobsrAeu66DLAQ&biw=800&bih=489&sei=2ECYT6-OEonprAeJreTQAQ
http://blog.creativekismet.com/2011/01/06/little-guiding-stars/ — Origami stars with message within !!! Place these within the jars [which you can decorate further] & use as gift to self &/or family/friends – they’ll be thrilled!

Http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=crafts+made+with+jars&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=crafts+made+with+jars&sc=0-16&sp=-1&sk=#x204y343

Use the jar as a ‘base’/torso/body to create fun animals, cartoon characters, laughing buddha, etc. Cut out ears, hands, feet, etc. From cardstock or cardboard; color or cover; add details; glue to the jar. You can place a smaller jar on top of a larger one to be the head on the body…

Or use as base over which you can sculpt with clay, pepier mache, etc. To make Gargoyles, etc. For your garden & backyard !!!
Www.lejardinenchante.fr/caricatures/caricatures/caricatures.html

Or make luminaries for your porch, garden, ….. Http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/ . For beautiful light patterns you can glue some kirigami design! Jillee has also used mason jar lids to make the Perfect Fried Eggs !

Http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=345014.0&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=ExactTarget&utm_campaign= — How to make an air plant chandelier with clear glass containers !

Use for party games. Eg. Candy jar guessing game : http://www.parties4me.com/2011/08/candy-party-games.html

Hope these inspire too
Happy crafting 🙂

GardenersCardiff answers:

I highly recommend this …
Http://www.amazon.com/Strathwood-Fiber-30-Inch-Doormat-Closed/dp/B001KOUDH0/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1248370091&sr=1-5&tag=aor-sale-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957

Product Description
Greet guests before ever opening the door with an attractive and welcoming doormat. Available in a choice of styles for easy accessorizing, this doormat from Strathwood is an environmentally friendlier alternative made from natural coco fiber and recycled rubber. The bristled coco fibers stand up and grab dirt well. Designed to serve outdoors and withstand elements, the mat is durable as well as highly functional and attractive. Its rubber back ensures a no-slip grip for steady footing, and it’s very easy to clean. Offering ample foot space, the mat measures 18 by 30 inches. Peruse the design styles available and buy one for each outdoor entryway for a coordinated look.

This mat is made with nice long and very stiff brushes for catching and scraping dirt from you shoes. The rubber part is fairly thick and sturdy. The mat is heavey enough to stay put, it wont slide just because you step on it.

The price is also reasonable. It will take a long time to wear out this product

Hope you like it. Good Luck!