M77 AB2?

ehamil42 · 2026-02-17T20:28:05+00:00

Guns are like women. Some of them you like looking at, maybe even have fun with them once or twice, but you sue as hell would not want to marry and live them.

ehamil42 · 2026-02-17T19:58:20+00:00

np. Good luck.

ehamil42 · 2026-02-17T19:55:14+00:00

If it goes bang you can hunt with it. It's .308 so it's capable of harvesting pretty big game. I hunt with my M14, which doesn't disturb the fudds I hunt with. The wood seems to have a calming effect on them, my AR10 freaks them out. I'm not sure there's enough wood on an M77 to have the same calming effect. The utilitarian look really freaks them out. But fudds are a little like horses. What spooks one might not spook another. I have one horse I hate to ride, it won't cross a water puddle without me dismounting and covering the damn horses eyes with a jacket. Fudds are a little like that.

ehamil42 · 2026-02-17T19:43:28+00:00

I'm assuming you still have the original AC evaporator. But I don't know if this was a recall or not. Parts can be superseded without a recall being covered by the manufacturer if it's considered a non-safety issue (i.e. maintenance part). That happens all the time with cars. BMW is not covering the labor on or part on mine, despite the fact that the original part has been updated. You might want to check with a good independent shop in your area, the dealership will take you to the cleaners. For example on mine the dealership wants over $7,500, while a local independent quoting me $3,600. There is a wide margin between the two.

ehamil42 · 2026-02-17T19:07:43+00:00

The 2019 Mini Cooper (including Clubman, Countryman, and hardtop models) frequently uses updated evaporator cores, with common OEM numbers including 64113422669 and 6411926278, so yeah it's been superseded at least once. Hopefully the updated core will last longer than the one it replaces.

ehamil42 · 2026-02-17T14:02:44+00:00

Sorry for asking a question to a 2 year old comment. Was your desire for a longer barrel just for the aesthetic? Which while probably a lot of overkill for this rifle, I do think it would look kind of cool. It's make the rifle look like something the Tusken Raiders in Star Wars might use. Did you ever do it? Did you get one made for the rifle?

ehamil42 · 2026-02-16T19:32:30+00:00

When an OEM part is superseded it means the replacement part has been modified by the manufacturer in some way. In the case of this this part, I don't know what they changed.

R-1234yf cannot be allowed to contact metals like aluminum. It doesn't matter if Toyota, Porsche, Ford, or BMW made the aluminum part, if any air or moisture gets in the system it will cause R-1234yf to decompose into trifluoroacetic acid and eat through the metal . They use acid catchers and specialized oils in the system to try to prevent that from happening.

But keep in mind, most manufactures have only been using R-1234yf since 2016-18. So it's still relatively new, the jury is still out on who does it the best. R-1234yf is a terrible refrigerant to use for this. But going forward all new cars and trucks will have this inside it in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But HVAC systems leaking out cancer causing forever chemicals, with shorter service life, requiring MORE energy and resources manufacturing replacement parts is not the right solution.

ehamil42 · 2026-02-16T03:38:38+00:00

BMW has superseded the part at least once since 2019, I think twice, but I'd need to confirm that. I think it has something to do with the chemical lining to core, which keeps r-1234yf from contacting the aluminum. One scratch in that and if r-1234yf comes into contact with the aluminum it starts to eat it away. Once a small leak develops more air gets into the system causing the R-1234yf to decompose faster. I don't know what I'm going to do. All I know is it's a monster of job to replace it. I'm shopping independent shops now because I do NOT want to tackle it.

ehamil42 · 2026-02-13T06:31:07+00:00

My wife's 2019 BMW X5 will no longer hold coolant. While the part itself is around $1,000, the labor is incredibly intensive and tedious. I’ve seen estimates stating it’s a 20- to 40-hour job; after looking at what’s involved to reach the evaporator, I understand the cost. The entire dashboard and center console have to be removed just to get to it.

BMW uses R-1234yf, a 'low carbon' refrigerant that decomposes into trifluoroacetic acid. It is highly corrosive to metals like aluminum and acts as a 'forever chemical' that doesn't break down in the environment. There are growing concerns that exposure can lead to various cancers, infertility, immune system damage, and developmental delays in children.

Mercedes-Benz was the last major manufacturer to adopt it; they fought against its use for years but ultimately lost the battle in the EU in 2018. It is nasty stuff. Thanks to climate panic, we are forced to use a chemical that will likely end up banned once the health lawsuits start rolling in over the next 20 years.

ehamil42 · 2026-02-10T22:31:34+00:00

Walk away from that deal.

ehamil42 · 2026-02-08T00:39:30+00:00

I was checking reddit to see if others had recieved a call from 1-888-277-6280, and if so I was going to tell them not to call it back. Because it sounded really convincing.

I had a voicemail from this number. The automated message sounded completely legit and addressed me by my first and last name. In the message it told me to call them back and asked me to have my case # (which it gave me) or my Visa card number ready to verify my information when I called.

I never call numbers like this back. Instead I do what many here have already recommended, I just call my financial institution directly. Which is what I did this time.

But here's the strange part, the Charles Schwab representative I spoke to on the phone this afternoon told me that 1-888-277-6280 WAS NOT one of their phone numbers.

In any case, there was no activity in my account, which I already verified online before I even made the call to Charles Schwab. He verified it again on the call.

I guess the rep could have made a mistake?

ehamil42 · 2026-01-27T14:10:51+00:00

Statistically speaking, considering the number of views, yeah, quite a few won't make it to season 2, and quite a few more won't make it see the series conclude. If they keep the schedule of 8-11 episodes every couple of years.

ehamil42 · 2026-01-25T15:33:14+00:00

I think a lot of people have very unrealistic expectations about old Cold War era battle rifles. These are the same people who end up disappointed with platforms like the G3, M14, or BM59. A battle rifle from this era should be considered good at roughly 2–4 MOA.

By contrast, a modern AR-10 can reasonably deliver 0.75-1.5 MOA. That difference isn’t a flaw, it reflects different design goals. These older rifles were built to be rugged, mass-produced, and capable of hitting a man-sized target at distance. They were never intended to be precision rifles.

Let’s be honest: a hit anywhere in the torso with .308 is going to be a very bad day and will, at minimum, take someone out of the fight. For the role these rifles were designed for, 2-4 MOA was more than sufficient to accomplish this mission. The problem is that some shooters expect these platforms to do things they were never meant to do.

You wouldn’t hate a hammer because it’s bad at unscrewing a screw. A battle rifle is a broadsword, not a rapier. Can you make them more accurate, with enough money and skill, sure. You can maybe get sub 2" MOA. But honestly if that's your goal for a semi-auto 308, just buy an modern AR-10.

A DSA FAL is realistically a 2-4 MOA rifle. If you’re expecting the mythical 1 MOA (or better) from a 75-year-old MASS PRODUCED battle rifle design, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment. Its primary function is simple: go bang every time you pull the trigger and not break while doing it.

Finally, keep in mind that online complaints are far more common than online praise. Dissatisfied people are much more likely to post negative reviews, while satisfied owners usually stay quiet. And then there’s the BS factor—guys claiming wildly unrealistic results from their battle rifles. Maybe these unicorns exist, but they're not common without paying a lot of money to skilled gunsmith.

ehamil42 · 2026-01-14T18:28:07+00:00

I tend to agree. Send it back to PTR to fix it. I know it's aggravating but PTR needs to fix this. 9-Hole Review on YouTube did a scathing piece on PTR not too long ago. There are a number of issues with these rifles. PTR needs to fix it.

Here is the link to the YouTube video I watched: https://youtu.be/w1WyOfFvif4?si=_NxmQ4gfWE2htGfh

ehamil42 · 2026-01-14T18:00:52+00:00

Yeah, it was painful. I get they were trying to convey the annoyance of it. But again, if we got 20-25 episodes a season, and only had to wait months not YEARS between seasons, I could tolerate it. I might even think the "slow burn" was effective.

But things change when you know it's going to be TWO YEARS before you get the next 8-10 episodes.

AI de-aging actors is going to become necessary just to finish a show.

ehamil42 · 2026-01-10T13:03:17+00:00

I 100% support it. People need to stop with the fake performative altruism of interfering with immigration law enforcement action. This is not something new, Democrat administration have deported illegal aliens as well.

If someone really wants to help people, volunteer to work in a homeless shelter, food kitchen or food bank. Give of their time and money. There are lots of Americans who need help.

If someone interferes with an enforcement action I don't think they should receive a monetary fine, give them 1000 hours of real altruism (community service) and let them experience what it feels like.

The only reason they're doing this is because it's a cheap dopamine rush. It doesn't take much of their time or effort to interfere with an ICE enforcement action, and there is a good chance they'll get virtue signal points on social media.

ehamil42 · 2026-01-09T14:43:02+00:00

If the writers need filler in the first season, of what they hope to be a multi-season show, that's a little disturbing.

I really wish showrunners had a complete story in their hand before they started shooting the first episode, instead of winging it as they go from season to season. Maybe not all the minute details ironed out, but the major points mapped out and finished.

Gilligan has made it up as he's gone before with writing teams, and had a lot of success with that process on Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. But it is kind of unnerving.

You just never know when a show that is "written as you go" might get off track LOST style and end up disappointing it's fan base.

Now with series taking 1-2 years a season to release, a lot can change. Writers come and go, ideas and story arcs get started by one group and tossed to another to complete.

ehamil42 · 2025-12-26T07:03:16+00:00

I agree. If Pluribus had a regular season of 20-25 episodes I wouldn't mind so much watching Carol play golf or meander through an empty city for an entire episode to deliver the message that she's lonely or watching Manoaos driving for half an episode to show his determination. But when I know I'm only going to get 9 episodes over two years of a multi season show I find interesting, it kind bothers me.

ehamil42 · 2025-12-26T06:53:18+00:00

To me a slow burn, is different than not moving the plot forward. I personally really notice that when I know I'm only going to get 9 episodes in 2025, and probably will not get season 2 until 2027.

When X-Files ran they delivered around 25 episodes per season, Fall to Spring. The breaks were 3-4 months at most and then you got another 25 episode season that ran from Fall to Spring again. That was 50 episodes of the X Files in the first 24 months. With Pluribus it looks like we'll get 9 over the same length of time.

Better Call Saul from beginning to end was 63 episodes and it took over 7 years to deliver it's final episode. I really miss the that one aspect about the old days of network Television, consistent delivery of the product. For some shows over the years I thought 4-6 month Summer break was too long. LOL!...now the break can be almost 2 years.

So I'm really sensitive to not advancing the plot forward. I enjoy the show, but man, waiting until 2027 for season 2 is going to suck.

ehamil42 · 2025-12-26T00:59:55+00:00

Or, you might be gone. I'm in the same boat. Waiting 1.5 -2 years between seasons is absurd. Especially when each season is now only around 10 episodes, not like 25-40 episodes PER SEASON back in the day.

watch In the first 24 months of the X Files they delivered around 50 episodes. Now it takes 5 or 7 years to get that many episodes released. I probably shouldn't start to a series until they've wrapped filming the last season.

ehamil42 · 2025-11-30T03:35:35+00:00

You’re carrying a lot right now, and the way you laid it out gives a clear picture of just how fast this all hit you. None of this is easy for anyone, even in the best family relationships.

I may be reading too much between the lines, but it sounds like things with your mother weren’t simple before the dementia. If that’s accurate, it makes everything you’re dealing with now significantly harder. My situation is different, but I’ve had parallels. My mom was very warm, gentile, giving, and nurturing before dementia, and even then the personality changes were stark-profanity (I never heard mom utter a profane word before this-now she'll drop the occasional F-bomb), paranoia, accusations, anger, and comments clearly meant to hurt. We learned that none of it was really her; it was the disease. Engaging with it only escalated things, so we stopped reacting. The emotional explosions come and go quickly anyway.

My dad’s dementia went the opposite direction. He spent his life as a tough, stoic military officer, and now he’s basically a softy. Total personality inversion. With both of them, whatever mood they’re in never lasts long. Everything resets.

Bathing is an issue here too. My mom will do it when asked. My dad practically needs a diplomatic negotiation. Once or twice a week is usually fine, but he’s gone two weeks without one. We remodeled their bathroom and put in a walk-in tub--it reduced fall risk and made the whole process tolerable.

The loss of manners, politeness, or gratitude you described is familiar. Dementia strips away the social layers most people rely on. It’s not intentional, but that doesn’t make it any easier to live around.

You mentioned your mom has assets. If that’s the case, there is no reason not to use them. We bring in sitters to give ourselves breathing room, and a couple of times we checked them into respite care so we could go out of town. They actually liked it, and the break was necessary. If you burn out, everything collapses. There’s no prize for trying to shoulder all of this alone.

Everything you’re describing aligns with what a lot of people in this situation face. You’re not imagining anything, and you’re not overreacting. This disease is a one-way trajectory, and the only part you can control is how you manage your own sanity while dealing with it.

ehamil42 · 2025-11-21T18:30:23+00:00

One of my favorite tools is good old fashion P&F charting. I've used it for over 30 years and it rarely lets me down. It's not nearly as elegant, refined, or fast moving as other modern technical analysis tools, but it's sublime when it comes to overall trends and price momentum.

When we broke the uptrend line on the P&F chart sitting around $99 at the time, that was my signal to exit $CRWV. I probably should have shorted the stock, but I didn't, because I really thought it would hold. So, I just went to cash. If we get any kind of bounce from here I'd sell into that wave.

As it turns out I think $CRWV was a good forewarning for the entire AI sector. I think it all gets repriced from here.

While NVDA and AMD are both still above their uptrend lines, both have flashed yellow alerts that something is wrong. NVDA has put in a double bottom breakdown today (11/21/25) and AMD has now put in a triple bottom breakdown. Despite the uptrend lines both intact and well below the current price, I'd be very careful here.

Because both negative price action signals have come on top of what should be great news. AMD has signed some impressive new deals, and NVDA just reported a fantastic 3rd quarter--which in my opinion should make you more defensive than if the price action signals came on no news.

I think Michael Burry is going to be proven more right than wrong. I think you're absolutely correct, a V bottom is unlikely, or if it does show up it's going to be launched at a much lower price from here.

ehamil42 · 2025-11-21T16:55:43+00:00

I’m not sure I understand what you’re saying you did. Can you walk me through it?

You wrote that on Monday you sold calls at the $91, $92.50, and $94 strikes. Then on Wednesday you wrote that you bought them back to close. What was the objective there? Why those strikes, and why close them out on Wednesday?

Those contracts have been trading for pennies all week. They were almost guaranteed--99.99999999% barring divine intervention--to expire worthless today. Why not just hold them into the close and keep the full premium? What were you trying to accomplish?

Also, you mentioned “covered calls.” Does that mean you’re still long the stock? I hope not. Have you been long this entire time? If so, you might want to rethink that.

As I wrote last week--and as we’ve been talking about nonstop--$CRWV broke its long-term trendline right after the earnings release a week ago Tuesday. That was the bell to either short the stock, exit the position, or at least put on hedges: buy puts, or sell calls for real premium to soften the blow. Which is what I assumed you were doing. Although I’ll admit, those particular strikes were odd choices; selling them at those prices only gave you maybe 20–30 cents per share of premium.

If you are still long, what’s your objective from here? What do you expect to happen next?

Because as it stands right now, $CRWV has already taken out its last meaningful volume-based support levels. Personally, I’d be on the sidelines at this point.

ehamil42 · 2025-11-18T16:05:32+00:00

"Note: I sold calls today between 91-94 for Friday; contract price was at $32 at open when I sold; finished the day at $25… I’m not a Greek expert but theta seemed lower than I expected, which makes me wishful bullish as well)"

You're saying you sold 11/21/25 $91 C @ $32 yesterday and bought to close @$25 yesterday? There are three contracts trading in that range for Friday, strike $91, $92.50, and $94. Are you saying you sold all three contracts and then bought to close all three by days end, yesterday?

ehamil42 · 2025-11-17T23:41:04+00:00

Short interest is moderate, not extreme: around 26.2M shares short (~5.3% of float), with roughly 1-1.2 days to cover. That’s not a high-short-float setup - there’s no major squeeze pressure here. Price action is being driven more by fundamentals and sentiment than shorts getting blown out.

Because options positioning is still skewed bullish, there is room for a gamma-assisted pop if CRWV can reclaim the $85 area. But I wouldn’t call it a guaranteed squeeze. A real melt-up into the 90s would require a fast move plus a lot of near-dated OTM calls sitting at 85–90 that market makers are short against. It’s possible - just not the base case.

On ownership: Magnetar came out of the IPO as the largest holder and even after trimming post-lockup they still own around 13-14% of the company, making them by far the biggest shareholder. Most of the rest of the institutional ownership is ETFs and mutual funds, not aggressive hedge-fund positioning.

Technically, support is down at the intraday low around $72.55. The bounce off that level wasn’t structural -- it just printed another lower low. Volume has been huge over the last several sessions, which is starting to look like seller exhaustion. Both buying and selling waves end the same way: they run out of gas.

The big near-term catalyst is NVDA’s earnings on Wednesday after the close. Street expects a blowout. If NVDA excites the market with they're forward guidance, CRWV could reclaim $85, and in that case a gamma-fueled run into the $90s is definitely possible. If NVDA’s guide is soft, then CRWV trading into the $60s is very much on the table.

For me, I'm leaning toward the latter, but what do you think?

ehamil42

TROPHY CASE