NEW AMERICAN TRUTH: October 2007

What's New

Special Projects Unlimited 18" .308

At first glance something looks a little off-balance with this rifle. What I came to realize is that there's nothing wrong with it; the profile simply doesn't fit what has long come to represent the stereo-typical "sniper rifle". However, in today's world, unless you're using a .50 caliber weapon, there's no need for a precision rifle to be super long. I went through sniper school using a gun that had a 20" barrel. This 18" from Special Projects Unlimited LLC (SPU) has proven more than capable on first firing tests.

Headquartered in Fredericksburg, Virginia, SPU is now focusing their efforts on precision bolt guns. If this sample is representative of their "average" work, then they'll soon make a huge name for themselves in the industry. Early testing provided sub-1/4-MOA groups from 100 and 300 yards. Three-shot one-hole groups were not uncommon. I look forward to testing this rifle out some more and will write an extensive evaluation of it in future issues.

"High Profile" from Robert B. Parker

When fictional character Jesse Stone left the Los Angeles Police Department Homicide Investiations devision - resigning before they could fire him for being drunk on the job - he took on the job of Chief of Police in the quiet oceanside city of Paradise... Massachusetts. After traveling from one end of the country to the other, starting his trip looking at the Pacific and ending it looking at the Atlantic, Jesse thought he'd found a nice peaceful New England village where he could work his way sober and into obscurity.

It just wasn't meant to be. After finding out that the Town fathers were involved in money laundering to support their unauthorized militia Jesse went on to clean up after various murders visited upon the small town by people visiting. Unfortunately, during their visits, they tended to bring their sickness and violence with them. That's the case in "High Profile". Jesse finds himself - and his police department - at the center of national media attention when a syndicated radio broadcaster is murdered and then his body hung up in Paradise. With a number of ex-wives, one soon-to-be-ex-wife and a host of people who simply didn't like what the broadcaster had to say, there is no shortage of suspects. Of course, there's an old adage about keeping your friends close and your enemies closer. I think the broadcaster may have done well to remember and heed it.

Local flavor of Paradise is brought in through the lesbian-owned-and-operated bakery in Town, not to mention the relaitvely rookie cop who has lots of common sense, tons of dedication, and a big desire to be a detective... on an agency that doesn't have a detective bureau. Fans of Parker's Spenser for Hire novels will recognize Captain Healy, the State Police Homicide Commander. In a few of the books other characters are also common. Parker has another series about a woman named Sunny Randall and somehow she ended up romantically involved with Jesse Stone. Criss-crossing his characters doesn't make Parker's books LESS interesting. It has the exact opposite affect and I'm impressed that he can keep track of all the characters and settings when he starts to mix and match them.

I kinda like Jesse Stone. He doesn't say much and when he does he really doesn't care if what he says pisses people off. If that sounds like your kind of character, check out Robert B. Parker's works. I've been enjoying them for years.