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This is 5/32" thick 1095 carbon steel double acid etched has black walnut scales, brass mosaic pin and lanyard hole, thumb jimping and file work on the spine. It comes with a kydex sheath and TekLok. OAL is 10" and the blade is about 5 3/8". And this one. It's also made of the same steel and thickness. OAL is 12" with a blade of 6 1/2". It's also double acid etched and has thumb jimping and file work on the spine. It has burmese blackwood scales with SS mosaic pins and also has a lanyard hole.

It dont matter as to the material... Think about doin an earth tone one for us "covert" low key operatives... low key leroy...

You caught me. I was carrying two, because my usual rig was a bit much for the summer heat. This is Vera. She's my most favorite gun.

You don't understand how to operate.

I wrapped up this beefcake this Memorial Day weekend for a friend of mine who had some special requests. First he had a very specific shape in mind that resembled a knife he had as a kid and lost. He wanted the scales to be bright so he wouldn't lose it. He also wanted the size to be on a larger scale as he is a big man and has huge mitts. So I ordered up some 5/32" CPM154 and got work! This knife is built like a tank! I'm not talking GT BIG, I'm talking a beefcake!! I'm comfortable this will take anything he could throw at it and more. Professionally heat treated to 60-61, G-10 scales with Copper pins. I'm quite fond of this one even though it's loud.

Hah! What you didn't see was the Taurus Governor and Raging Judge strapped to my ankles.

I was loading these at Da Nang in 1967.

I got my CNC mill up and running to engrave on. Pretty stoked. Here are some pictures so far. Have some finer bits coming I ordered today to see how they do. I'm happy with it so far though. [/URL] And lastly, a 5th group buddy of mines team logo.

I want a Gallatin M9

Here in the next couple weeks I'm buying the jig to bend the flats for the HK guns.

I'm keeping all of those that made the ultimate sacrifice for our country at the front of my mind today. The Warriors and those that they left behind. Thank you all!

Thank You Patriots!

We have lived next to the Cherokee National Park Bear reserve for 11 months now and just saw our first bear today, just before lunch. It apparently was checking out the flower bed on the end of the house, when my wife came home and spooked it. I was sitting in the living room and heard the driveway alarm but before my wife could get the rest of the way up the drive I heard something big coming on the front deck. I look up to see a black blur go buy the front windows. I look out the bedroom window to see a bear sitting on the far end of the porch. I go out the back door and told my wife to stay in the car and went back in and grabbed my camera to take some shots out the window. About that time I heard it go over the porch railing and down probably 12-14 feet. I went out on the deck and got a couple of pictures. Then remembered I had moved the trail cam to the side of the house the day before because something was digging in the flower bed (turned out to be a raccoon). So I pulled the card and this was one of the better pictures I got. Not a huge bear, probably around 100lbs.

I was considering a G26, or G43 or the XD MOD2..... I grabbed the XD for $519 and put 200 rounds though it right away.... If you haven't tried this gun... You Need to.. Smooth, balanced, accurate.. it just fits and works well

http://www.thesandgram.com/2009/07/28/burial-at-sea-by-ltcol-george-goodson-usmc-ret/ "Burial at Sea” by LtCol George Goodson, USMC (Ret) In my 76th year, the events of my life appear to me, from time to time, as a series of vignettes. Some were significant; most were trivial. War is the seminal event in the life of everyone that has endured it. Though I fought in Korea and the Dominican Republic and was wounded there, Vietnam was my war. Now 37 years have passed and, thankfully, I rarely think of those days in Cambodia , Laos , and the panhandle of North Vietnam where small teams of Americans and Montangards fought much larger elements of the North Vietnamese Army. Instead I see vignettes: some exotic, some mundane: *The smell of Nuc Mam. *The heat, dust, and humidity. *The blue exhaust of cycles clogging the streets. *Elephants moving silently through the tall grass. *Hard eyes behind the servile smiles of the villagers. *Standing on a mountain in Laos and hearing a tiger roar. *A young girl squeezing my hand as my medic delivered her baby. *The flowing Ao Dais of the young women biking down Tran Hung Dao. *My two years as Casualty Notification Officer in North Carolina , Virginia , and Maryland . It was late 1967. I had just returned after 18 months in Vietnam . Casualties were increasing. I moved my family from Indianapolis to Norfolk , rented a house, enrolled my children in their fifth or sixth new school, and bought a second car. A week later, I put on my uniform and drove 10 miles to Little Creek, Virginia. I hesitated before entering my new office. Appearance is important to career Marines. I was no longer, if ever, a poster Marine. I had returned from my third tour in Vietnam only 30 days before. At 5’9″, I now weighed 128 pounds – 37 pounds below my normal weight. My uniforms fit ludicrously, my skin was yellow from malaria medication, and I think I had a twitch or two. I straightened my shoulders, walked into the office, looked at the nameplate on a Staff Sergeant’s desk and said, “Sergeant Jolly, I’m Lieutenant Colonel Goodson. Here are my orders and my Qualification Jacket.” Sergeant Jolly stood, looked carefully at me, took my orders, stuck out his hand; we shook and he asked, “How long were you there, Colonel?” I replied “18 months this time.” Jolly breathed, “Jesus, you must be a slow learner Colonel.” I smiled. Jolly said, “Colonel, I’ll show you to your office and bring in the Sergeant Major. I said, “No, let’s just go straight to his office.” Jolly nodded, hesitated, and lowered his voice, “Colonel, the Sergeant Major. He’s been in this G*dd@mn job two years. He’s packed pretty tight. I’m worried about him.” I nodded. Jolly escorted me into the Sergeant Major’s office. “Sergeant Major, this is Colonel Goodson, the new Commanding Officer. The Sergeant Major stood, extended his hand and said, “Good to see you again, Colonel.” I responded, “Hello Walt, how are you?” Jolly looked at me, raised an eyebrow, walked out, and closed the door. I sat down with the Sergeant Major. We had the obligatory cup of coffee and talked about mutual acquaintances. Walt’s stress was palpable. Finally, I said, “Walt, what’s the h-ll’s wrong?” He turned his chair, looked out the window and said, “George, you’re going to wish you were back in Nam before you leave here. I’ve been in the Marine Corps since 1939. I was in the Pacific 36 months, Korea for 14 months, and Vietnam for 12 months. Now I come here to bury these kids. I’m putting my letter in. I can’t take it anymore.” I said, “OK Walt. If that’s what you want, I’ll endorse your request for retirement and do what I can to push it through Headquarters Marine Corps.” Sergeant Major Walt Xxxxx retired 12 weeks later. He had been a good Marine for 28 years, but he had seen too much death and too much suffering. He was used up. Over the next 16 months, I made 28 death notifications, conducted 28 military funerals, and made 30 notifications to the families of Marines that were severely wounded or missing in action. Most of the details of those casualty notifications have now, thankfully, faded from memory. Four, however, remain. MY FIRST NOTIFICATION My third or fourth day in Norfolk , I was notified of the death of a 19 year old Marine. This notification came by telephone from Headquarters Marine Corps. The information detailed: *Name, rank, and serial number. *Name, address, and phone number of next of kin. *Date of and limited details about the Marine’s death. *Approximate date the body would arrive at the Norfolk Naval Air Station. *A strong recommendation on whether the casket should be opened or closed. The boy’s family lived over the border in North Carolina , about 60 miles away. I drove there in a Marine Corps staff car. Crossing the state line into North Carolina , I stopped at a small country store / service station / Post Office. I went in to ask directions. Three people were in the store. A man and woman approached the small Post Office window. The man held a package. The Storeowner walked up and addressed them by name, “Hello John . Good morning Mrs. Cooper.” I was stunned. My casualty’s next-of-kin’s name was John Cooper ! I hesitated, then stepped forward and said, “I beg your pardon. Are you Mr. and Mrs. John Copper of (address.) The father looked at me-I was in uniform – and then, shaking, bent at the waist, he vomited. His wife looked horrified at him and then at me. Understanding came into her eyes and she collapsed in slow motion. I think I caught her before she hit the floor. The owner took a bottle of whiskey out of a drawer and handed it to Mr. Cooper who drank. I answered their questions for a few minutes. Then I drove them home in my staff car. The storeowner locked the store and followed in their truck. We stayed an hour or so until the family began arriving. I returned the storeowner to his business. He thanked me and said, “Mister, I wouldn’t have your job for a million dollars.” I shook his hand and said; “Neither would I.” I vaguely remember the drive back to Norfolk. Violating about five Marine Corps regulations, I drove the staff car straight to my house. I sat with my family while they ate dinner, went into the den, closed the door, and sat there all night, alone. My Marines steered clear of me for days. I had made my first death notification. THE FUNERALS Weeks passed with more notifications and more funerals.. I borrowed Marines from the local Marine Corps Reserve and taught them to conduct a military funeral: how to carry a casket, how to fire the volleys and how to fold the flag. When I presented the flag to the mother, wife, or father, I always said, “All Marines share in your grief.” I had been instructed to say, “On behalf of a grateful nation.” I didn’t think the nation was grateful, so I didn’t say that. Sometimes, my emotions got the best of me and I couldn’t speak. When that happened, I just handed them the flag and touched a shoulder. They would look at me and nod. Once a mother said to me, “I’m so sorry you have this terrible job.” My eyes filled with tears and I leaned over and kissed her. ANOTHER NOTIFICATION Six weeks after my first notification, I had another. This was a young PFC. I drove to his mother’s house. As always, I was in uniform and driving a Marine Corps staff car. I parked in front of the house, took a deep breath, and walked towards the house. Suddenly, the door flew open, a middle-aged woman rushed out. She looked at me and ran across the yard, screaming “NO! NO! NO! NO!” I hesitated. Neighbors came out. I ran to her, grabbed her, and whispered stupid things to reassure her. She collapsed. I picked her up and carried her into the house. Eight or nine neighbors followed. Ten or fifteen later, the father came in followed by ambulance personnel. I have no recollection of leaving. The funeral took place about two weeks later. We went through the drill. The mother never looked at me. The father looked at me once and shook his head sadly. ANOTHER NOTIFICATION One morning, as I walked in the office, the phone was ringing. Sergeant Jolly held the phone up and said, “You’ve got another one, Colonel.” I nodded, walked into my office, picked up the phone, took notes, thanked the officer making the call, I have no idea why, and hung up. Jolly, who had listened, came in with a special Telephone Directory that translates telephone numbers into the person’s address and place of employment. The father of this casualty was a Longshoreman. He lived a mile from my office. I called the Longshoreman’s Union Office and asked for the Business Manager. He answered the phone, I told him who I was, and asked for the father’s schedule. The Business Manager asked, “Is it his son?” I said nothing. After a moment, he said, in a low voice, “Tom is at home today.” I said, “Don’t call him. I’ll take care of that.” The Business Manager said, “Aye, Aye Sir,” and then explained, “Tom and I were Marines in WWII.” I got in my staff car and drove to the house. I was in uniform. I knocked and a woman in her early forties answered the door. I saw instantly that she was clueless. I asked, “Is Mr. Smith home?” She smiled pleasantly and responded, “Yes, but he’s eating breakfast now. Can you come back later?” I said, “I’m sorry. It’s important, I need to see him now.” She nodded, stepped back into the beach house and said, “Tom, it’s for you.” A moment later, a ruddy man in his late forties, appeared at the door. He looked at me, turned absolutely pale, steadied himself, and said, “Jesus Christ man, he’s only been there three weeks!” Months passed. More notifications and more funerals. Then one day while I was running, Sergeant Jolly stepped outside the building and gave a loud whistle, two fingers in his mouth…. I never could do that… and held an imaginary phone to his ear. Another call from Headquarters Marine Corps. I took notes, said, “Got it.” and hung up. I had stopped saying “Thank You” long ago. Jolly, “Where?” Me, “Eastern Shore of Maryland . The father is a retired Chief Petty Officer. His brother will accompany the body back from Vietnam .” Jolly shook his head slowly, straightened, and then said, “This time of day, it’ll take three hours to get there and back. I’ll call the Naval Air Station and borrow a helicopter. And I’ll have Captain Tolliver get one of his men to meet you and drive you to the Chief’s home.” He did, and 40 minutes later, I was knocking on the father’s door. He opened the door, looked at me, then looked at the Marine standing at parade rest beside the car, and asked, “Which one of my boys was it, Colonel?” I stayed a couple of hours, gave him all the information, my office and home phone number and told him to call me, anytime. He called me that evening about 2300 (11:00PM). “I’ve gone through my boy’s papers and found his will. He asked to be buried at sea. Can you make that happen?” I said, “Yes I can, Chief. I can and I will.” My wife who had been listening said, “Can you do that?” I told her, “I have no idea. But I’m going to break my *** trying.” I called Lieutenant General Alpha Bowser, Commanding General, Fleet Marine Force Atlantic, at home about 2330, explained the situation, and asked, “General, can you get me a quick appointment with the Admiral at Atlantic Fleet Headquarters?” General Bowser said, ”George, you be there tomorrow at 0900. He will see you." I was and the Admiral did.. He said coldly, “How can the Navy help the Marine Corps, Colonel.” I told him the story. He turned to his Chief of Staff and said, “Which is the sharpest destroyer in port?” The Chief of Staff responded with a name. The Admiral called the ship, “Captain, you’re going to do a burial at sea. You’ll report to a Marine Lieutenant Colonel Goodson until this mission is completed.” He hung up, looked at me, and said, “The next time you need a ship, Colonel, call me. You don’t have to sic Al Bowser on my ***.” I responded, “Aye Aye, Sir” and got the h-ll out of his office. I went to the ship and met with the Captain, Executive Officer, and the Senior Chief. Sergeant Jolly and I trained the ship’s crew for four days. Then Jolly raised a question none of us had thought of. He said, “These government caskets are air tight. How do we keep it from floating?” All the high priced help including me sat there looking dumb. Then the Senior Chief stood and said, “Come on Jolly. I know a bar where the retired guys from World War II hang out.” They returned a couple of hours later, slightly the worse for wear, and said, “It’s simple; we cut four 12″ holes in the outer shell of the casket on each side and insert 300 lbs of lead in the foot end of the casket. We can handle that, no sweat.” The day arrived. The ship and the sailors looked razor sharp. General Bowser, the Admiral, a US Senator, and a Navy Band were on board. The sealed casket was brought aboard and taken below for modification. The ship got underway to the 12-fathom depth. The sun was hot. The ocean flat. The casket was brought aft and placed on a catafalque. The Chaplin spoke. The volleys were fired. The flag was removed, folded, and I gave it to the father. The band played “Eternal Father Strong to Save.” The casket was raised slightly at the head and it slid into the sea. The heavy casket plunged straight down about six feet. The incoming water collided with the air pockets in the outer shell. The casket stopped abruptly, rose straight out of the water about three feet, stopped, and slowly slipped back into the sea. The air bubbles rising from the sinking casket sparkled in the in the sunlight as the casket disappeared from sight forever. The next morning I called a personal friend, Lieutenant General Oscar Peatross, at Headquarters Marine Corps and said, “General, get me out of here. I can’t take this anymore.” I was transferred two weeks later. I was a good Marine but, after 17 years, I had seen too much death and too much suffering. I was used up. Vacating the house, my family and I drove to the office in a two-car convoy. I said my goodbyes. Sergeant Jolly walked out with me. He waved at my family, looked at me with tears in his eyes, came to attention, saluted, and said, “Well Done, Colonel. Well Done.” I felt as if I had received the Medal of Honor! That is all.

I know... the stainless steel tumblers aren't up for sale yet and here I am talking about something else. Well, the tumblers should be posted on Monday (Memorial Day) and we'll do a pre-order window of about two weeks for them before I put the order in with the supplier, but I have something else in the works too. A few months ago we talked about doing some morale patches. It didn't get off the ground at the time, but I've sent out the proof image shown below to a few suppliers and am starting to get pricing back. I intend to move forward with these pretty soon as well. Right now I've been soliciting suppliers of PVC patches because they're a little cheaper and look better than embroidery, in my opinion, but I am willing to send it out to some embroidery shops also. Let me know what you think. I am also going to send our circular "icon" over to them to see what pricing looks like on them too. But these rectangular patches would be the typical 3" wide by 2" tall design that fits most hats, jackets and packs with velcro tabs on them.

Speaking of disagreement... I'd say the PPQ holds the title for best stock trigger (polymer pistols). Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

That's kind like a $4000 set of tires and wheels on a $500 car. See it all the time. Go for it!!!!!

$5 or so

I changed my reloading order. I've always deprimed/sized then wet tumbled. I tried tumbling first then sizing. It seems like the carbon deposits in the case neck are reducing it in size enough that they were sticking to the expander plug on the way out. I tried the reamer suggested by Chris, but it just polished the carbon deposit. I also switched to Redding sizing wax. Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

Anything from a name brand will be fine. You aren't pushing massive power to them so you will be alright. Typically you don't want to push too much power to the speakers, not too much speaker for the power. If we were talking subs it would be different. The higher the sensitivity, the better the handle the power offered, the louder they seem. I like Infinity, but without massive power and subs, you don't get a full spectrum of sound. Polk has a good reputation of offering competitive products at a good price. 6x8 is an uncommon Ford/Mazda only size, 5x7s will normally fit. If you can find a plate that will permit round speaker installation of 5.25" speakers you might be happier with the sound reproduction.

Memorial Day is not National BBQ or Go To The Beach or Lake Day. Sure it is okay to enjoy ourselves but it is the day set aside to remember the 646,568 (and counting) Americans who have given their lives fighting for, or defending, our freedoms since the American Revolution. And don't forget the 82,751 still missing in action. Each of these people was a son or daughter, brother or sister, or a friend to someone. Some were fathers or mothers. So don't forget to remember their loved ones who also paid a price with their death.

I got up before sunrise, lowered to half mast and just raised it fully.

It was a little too warm for his normal carry.

At least he didn't have one on each side in drop-leg tie-down cowboy holsters, so maybe he's not too far gone to come back to reality.

I have worn his MIA/POW bracelet since 1984 when I went to a motorcycle ride for Illinois MIA/POWs and I was given his name tag and I had the honor of riding in his place. Latter that day I looked thru two boxes of bracelets before I found his and come to find out we were in country the same time. Years later at a MIA/POW ride to the Traveling Wall down in Florida I looked him up and found that his birthday was only a few day away from mine. Fast forward to 2010 my youngest daughter who was going the UT wanted to take with me to D.C. and see the real Wall for my Birthday. We just picked a day that worked for her and off we went. We went to the Wall and I had her take some pictures of my hand with the bracelet on pointing to his name on the Wall. She asked about the bracelet and I told her, she then asked what day was his birthday as mine was getting pretty close. I said I wasn't sure what the exact date was and she could go to the booth where they had the book of all the records and they would look it up. She did while I looked up a few more names on the Wall. A few minutes later she came back crying and I asked her what was wrong. All she could say was " His birthday is today" and that's when I lost it. RIP Eddie, You are not forgotten http://www.virtualwall.org/dc/ClintonDE01a.htm

I'm in for a couple of whatever.

Just want to say a BIG THANK YOU to any and all that have served and those still serving their country

That's why I like Shiner Cheer! Wish it was available year round!

Keltec Sub2000 with matching mags to your edc handgun might fit the bill. For some reason after reading through this thread I am picturing Oh Shoot wearing a Russian mafia tracksuit to go with his tennis racket case.

I'm thinking I may have them texturize the red "field" of the flag and make the center icon 3-Dimensional.

^They make completion kits for these. I've got a Sten kit sitting around that I need to finish up one day.

I stopped responding to these juvenile elementary school post. They're just meant to stir the pot, and will lead to someone getting banned.

I've got a few people I knew that were lost in Iraq and Afghanistan that I'll be remembering as part of my Memorial Day. This day is for them, and all the others through the centuries that lost their lives for something bigger than themselves. It's also for all the gold star families. The burdens they've been forced to carry cannot be understated. So many stories of families having to move on from such a tragedy, it can give a grown man an allergy attack.

All gave some, some gave all. You are not forgotten. Vietnam Class of 1967 49 years ago, where did the time go?

Some people may say I am OCD but I think the M&P would be perfect if it would drop the roll-pins for solid pins , create a slide that doesn't have to have a rear sight to "hold down" the firing pin safety plunger , and make the frame without such a large "take down" lever . This all with the .45 cartridge and man what a gun ! And as Ten Bears says " that is all I have to say"

Steelharp, I disagree with your opinion. I believe the shields are some of the best all around handguns on the market, and especially for their value. I have felt better triggers on higher dollar guns, but they have the best striker fired trigger of any gun I have ever shot. I don't know why any given shield has a better trigger than their full size counterpart. I find the shield is easier to shoot than many guns twice its size and weight, and I find reports of malfunctions nearly unheard of. I wish the same shield platform was available in a longer and taller full size. Something like a slim, 10 round 4.25" barrel. It would easily serve as a duty weapon and an all season IWB concealed weapon.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Excellent. Actually, my heart is in the wonderful CZ 75... but they do get heavy after a while... I'm thinking I'm really liking the Ruger American, too... PPQ trigger at a good bit less money.

Lol! Kinda... I find myself in a terrible predicament. I was planning on selling one of my regular Shields to fund a PC Shield 9. I'm glad I haven't done it yet because they just came out with one with night sites. I think I'll probably jump on one of those soon, and then wait on the 45 until they give it the same PC treatment. Or maybe I'll keep both shield 9s and buy more, lol! We'll see...

S&W has outdone Glock for sure with this one. Glock's single stack 45 the , 36 , is 1.10 inch wide . The Shield is 1.05 counting the slide stop . The Glock 36 just still seems a lot fatter. This will be a tough decision between the two if I have to decide between them. I have never had a 36 but this Shield 45 looks pretty good.

This is a Rifle Shop kit that is one of the most rare BP rifles out there. The kit comes with a finished barrel and breech screw. Most all the rest of the parts including the brass all come in raw dropped out of the mold condition with pour sprues sticking out. If you ever order one of their kits, spend the extra $100 and have them put the lock together. That way they will fit, finish and harden the springs and related parts. They did nice color case hardening on the frizen and other hardened parts but the rest of the lock will still need to be resurfaced from the sand blasted cast surface. The first pictures shows how I lined up the barrel wedge loops with the drill, then slip the stock on the chucked up barrel so there is an accurate guide hole drilled in the wood for the 3 barrel wedge holes. Im not a big wood work guy but I struck up a friendship with they guy I bought my home from and agreed to build this gun for him. I installed a TC touch hole liner for practical reasons. [URL=http://s635.photobucket.com/user/xtriggerman/media/BLACK%20POWDER/P1060808_zpsdtlkt04d.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s635.photobucket.com/user/xtriggerman/media/BLACK%20POWDER/P1060809_zpsqrtdw3xi.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s635.photobucket.com/user/xtriggerman/media/BLACK%20POWDER/P1060810_zpslhku6wca.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s635.photobucket.com/user/xtriggerman/media/BLACK%20POWDER/P1060811_zpsdgohd2sq.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s635.photobucket.com/user/xtriggerman/media/BLACK%20POWDER/P1060890_zpsphjkozu8.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s635.photobucket.com/user/xtriggerman/media/BLACK%20POWDER/P1060891_zpsagblwqtk.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s635.photobucket.com/user/xtriggerman/media/BLACK%20POWDER/P1060892_zpssfqbphex.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s635.photobucket.com/user/xtriggerman/media/BLACK%20POWDER/P1060893_zpsybjq0igo.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s635.photobucket.com/user/xtriggerman/media/BLACK%20POWDER/P1060894_zps4zfu7kha.jpg.html][/URL] [URL=http://s635.photobucket.com/user/xtriggerman/media/BLACK%20POWDER/P1060897_zpscqbiaxtp.jpg.html][/URL]

If you need a rail section let me know. I've got plenty and will send you one to have. I picked up a bunch when I built my last rifle.

I have two pots, about 5 molds for my most common calibers, and 200 lbs of good lead sitting and waiting for the day I need it.  I figured it was cheaper to buy a couple of years ago vs 15 years down the road when bullets may be harder to come by.  If I am honest, I hope I never have to cast, but I like to be prepared.

      I could not disagree more.  I have MUCH more control over expansion with a cast bullet than any jacketed bullet and can do it at much lower velocities.  Cast bullet expansion can be easily controlled by alloy.  I can cast a hollow point from 50/50 wheel weights/soft lead and they will dang near splat on impact.  I cast a 230g bullet for my .358 Winchester with about a 70% meplat from a copper enriched babbit alloy that will barely deform when penetrating water jugs.  At 1880 FPS, it takes nearly a dozen to stop it.     Not to derail the discussion but expansion is a silly over analyzed bunch of crap any way.  Much like energy transfer.  Simple fact...Holes kill stuff.  A large heavy bullet at modest velocities will out penetrate any lightweight speedster.  Add a healthy meplat to a tough alloy and a cast bullet can and often does out perform premium whizz bang jacketed gimmicks with boring regularity.  Two nice big holes spewing blood like a hot can of beer.  That's real world performance.         If a cast bullet wasn't reliable to hunt with....there'd be Buffalo EVERYWHERE.  

If you're a bean counter, casting probably ain't for you.  It's NOT a frugal endeavor.  If you want more control over what you shoot...well, then it may be for you.

Powder coating is the way to govfor rifle calibers. I have tested it and vrlocities were above 3,200 fps before i started to see leading problems.

  Same deal as reloading in general. The skills and the tools give you lots of freedom to deal with ammo shortages and other unpredictable things. I don't cast, but only because I haven't got to it yet. I will ALWAYS be able to sling lead because I can make up my own ammo. Casting needs to be part of it eventually. Got nothing to do with cost

   Yeah , kinda like when the HS2000 came to the U.S.  around the late 90's. I remember seeing them for $299. And then Springfield Armory started importing them and raised the price a few hundred dollars to around $440 or so.  I hope to snag up one of these TP9 SF's and hopefully soon.