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I noticed the other day that I was very low on .38 factory ammo. My preferred SD round has always been the tried and true 158gr SWCHP +P. Commonly referred to as the "FBI Load". it was pretty much the standard Police load back when wheel guns were king. Over the years this load has been made by Federal, Remington and Winchester. I got to searching the internet and it seems that this load is getting hard to find. It just ain't out there. I did find some Winchester at $46 per box. After a bit of searching I found Lucky Gunner had Federal for $20 per box of 50. Depending on how much you buy, with shipping and tax, it'll run about $22-23 per box. That's a heck of a deal folks! So if you're like me and have a fondness for revolvers, now is a good time to stock up on this ammo. Lucky Gunner .38 Spl 158gr SWCHP

That is a good price. Also, if you don't mind Prvi standard velocity... https://www.surplusammo.com/products/38-special-158-grain-swc-hp-prvi-partizan-pph38sh-50-rounds.html

I have a set of Craftsman 1/4" drive sockets that my parents bought me for Christmas 49 years ago. I've broken three or four through the years and have always gotten a free replacement. Funny how tools can bring back memories. That particular Christmas my Dad was out of work and he wanted to get me a gift that I could learn to use on fixing things. I think of him every time I use the set . . . he's been gone since 1991.

The very first brand new rifle I bought when I turned 18 in 1977 was a M1A. SN 006022. It was a nice rifle but accuracy was out the window once the barrel got warm. Nation Matching the bedding points is some what of a fix but not an easy job and takes on wear with cleaning take downs. I sold it when Springfield started selling SAR48's and that rifle is the nut. After tuning it up to my liking, I at one time fired 10 rounds in 5/8ths" group @ 100yds. Hand weighed & prepped cases with W748 behind Sierra 168g BTHP Match kings. Typically the AR's will out shoot a FAL but the history, parts and field reliability loom large in the FAL's corner. The HK is a decent rifle but they are far more rough on the brass with their fluted chamber walls and the sheet metal stamping of a receiver is a huge negative compared to the sleek FAL's milled bolt guides. AK 308's are built AK reliable but what you inadvertently get with that is an over gassed weapon with a high piston over barrel bore that inherently creates way more barrel whip that the close to bore piston of the FAL. Speaking as a trained Gunsmith, a properly built FAL is the best bang for the buck in SHTF hardware. In that scenario, adjustable gas launches it past the more accurate AR guns. The M1A is simply out dated with its multi point bedding system compared to FAL barrel harmonic geometry. I like the M1A but I love the FAL design. So much so.... I hang FAL lowers on more than just their uppers! Best buy right here...DSA w/ life time warranty

Well as usual for me, I was running a little late and my gate lock was frozen. Had to go back inside to get a cigarette lighter to thaw the lock. Drove to my neighbors house and got there at exactly 5:42 a.m. which was the legal hour to shoot this morning. I got all my stuff and headed out, I had to cross an open field about 40 acres, and when I got where I could see there is a deer standing broadside, the .45 cal Encore at 129 yards and down went the deer. I thought at first I had seen antlers, and he had some about 8 1/2" long, a nice young about 140 lb. He is now resting peacefully in an Igloo ice chest in the barn. This is now the shortest deer hunt, may have taken 8 minutes. Previously shortest hunt was also muzzleloading season back in Mississippi and it took about 30 minutes from time I got out of truck until I pulled the trigger. I got into my ladder stand very quietly and you know all the stuff you carry while muzzleloading and got it all situated and it was just getting light where you could see and about 17 yards from the stand this doe is just standing there. These hunts do not resemble a lot of my hunts where I don't see any deer . More than 1 time I have sit from before daylight until dark and not seen anything. If no critters at all are moving, get up and go home!!

Moved to Knoxville area a few months ago. Looking forward to getting out and trying a few ranges. Recommendations welcome, prefer outdoor 100yd+ rifle or trap/sleet. Coming from CA and enjoying the freedom TN offers. Looking forward to to magazines that hold more than 10 rounds.

When I typed the title I figured somebody would think I was speaking of "the time change" back to standard time. My Craftsman brand 1/4" ratchet literally fell apart a few weeks ago, and I was thinking are they still covered by the warranty? As the Sears store in Cookeville closed, I happened to find out Lowes covers the warranty. I went in today with my OLD broken ratchet and got a brand spanking new one that retailed for $29.98. Not a big deal, however I receive a $49.99 tool set from my parents in 1968 for Christmas, it contained a 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" ratchets with sockets, screwdrivers, pliers and end wrenches. Plus over the years that ratchet that broke had been rebuilt or replaced at least 2 or 3 times. I think the tool set has been a great investment. Times have certainly changed.

I hit a few automotive flea markets every year and you can find older Craftsman and other good US built tools used for less than new Chinese tools. I don't need more tools but I fill in broken and lost pieces as needed. Last I bought was a 3/8 drive Craftsman ratchet for $8 looked almost new.

Currently carry a Kershaw 1600 and like it a lot. I carried a Buck 0425 MiniBuck for over 25 years before getting the Kershaw and still keep it in reserve. Main reason I switched, it seemed like I was always needing to open my knife when I was holding something with my other hand and the Buck is definitely a two handed knife to open.

This is my Gerber PARAFRAME MINI. I call it my “Illinois knife” because I can’t carry an auto knife when I go there; so I carry this. I saw it in Rural King on sale for like $10 a few years ago. I was pretty sharp when I got it, and still is. It’s been a good knife. https://www.gerbergear.com/en-us/shop/knives/all-knives/paraframe-mini-stainless-plain-edge-22-08485 This is my Protech Magic BR-1 "Whiskers" Automatic Knife that I carry when I am here. http://www.protechknives.com/product/br-1-7/ I think it was about $180 when I got it.

To answer the actual question asked, my main knife is a Gavko Thresher flipper. I also carry a Protech Strider SnG and a Protech TR4, both are autos. The knife that’s been in the rotation the longest is a Spyderco Native in all stainless that I bought from a member here about a decade ago.

My favorite knife of late is a sprint run Spyderco Paramilitary 3 in M390 steel. I’ve got a bigger PM2 in the same steel and I simply cannot say enough good things about it. A good stropping is all it needs to maintain an edge. If the PM3 is too big, I’d probably go with a Delica.

Well Greg that makes 2 of us. Sort of like cell phones, if it wasn't for my wife I wouldn't have one. Where we live it doesn't work much of the time. Yea I have heard of other you kids killing big deer and elk, kind of beginners luck I guess.

I’m happy to hear that about your ratchet. The older I get the more put off I am by the disposability of everything. Buying quality once and doing maintenance and repairs to keep it running really appeals to me. It just feels right somehow.

I didn’t see any deer but got to share space with a bald eagle this morning. He sat in a tree about 5 yards away and about 30 feet higher than me. He stayed for about a half hour.

" It measures 1.20" in diameter at the nut, tapers to 0.750" at the gas block where it flows to its minimum diameter of 0.60" until it flares slightly to accommodate an elongated, 3.48" flash hider developed by Smith. " https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2014/10/28/upgunned-smith-wesson-mp10/

The "Beto Male" was never going to get elected anyway. He was a media fabrication and wishful thinking at best on the part of the libs. He lost to Ted Cruz after raising $80 million in campaign donations from libs all over the country. That is the most $$$ ever raised for a senate candidate and he STILL lost to a very unpopular at the time Ted Cruz. The guy is a kook who took the most far left positions he could and he would not have any hope to win a presidential general election. Maybe he can get a job with Biden's kid.....

They absolutely aren’t. Stanley owns them now and they are built in the same factories in China that build most any of the consumer grade/house tool brands.

When I trained new shooters I always started with a 22 Long Rifle Revolver, or sig semi auto pistol in 22 LR. I am a firm believer one needs to get the basics of shooting down before drifting into the higher power/ more recoil handguns. YMMV. My latest venture is in the MP 2.0 9C semi auto pistol. I have purchased 2. Am working them into my daily carry although am not leaving my 7 shot Taurus 357 mag pocket carry for now. I am still trying to convince myself my M P are reliable enough and I can shoot them well enough to bet my life on. My M P carry 15 rounds and are flatter than the revolver but are not pocket carry guns. Also working on practical carry gear for the M P's. Edited to add; I recently read a story about the church shooting, in Colorado, where Jene Assam stopped the shooter with her 9 MM Police carry pistol. She was a former Police Officer and was a Security Team Volunteer, at her church. The guy that was also on the Security Team, and leader of it, also arrived at the scene of the shooter and had to prepare to face a heavily armed shooter carrying an AR 15 rifle, and also a handgun. He prepared himself, behind cover, to intercept the shooter who was coming down the hallway. He said he looked at the guy, pulled his weapon, and then realized he was confronting a heavily armed shooter with a literal mouse gun. He had a Taurus tip up barrel 32 mini pistol. His pistol had a 1 7/8" brl, with 7 shots of 32 acp ammo. The thought flashed in his mind, how am I going to do this. Fear entered him with that realization. He told himself how stupid is this! Here I am supposed to be an intelligent man standing here facing a crazed determined shooter with not even a good rock. Fortunately Jene Assam appeared, in his sight line, coming from another adjoining hallway, just ahead of him, and intercepted and stopped the perp with her duty Glock service pistol( IMS, A Glock Mdl 17, 9MM that she was thoroughly trained with). The guy said to himself, "Never again, will I go to work with a gun that is very easy to carry, but is an inadequate mouse gun. I could not imagine standing in a hallway facing an AR 15 armed shooter with that gun. I actually purchased one of those guns(tip up brl 32) years ago. Didn't take me long to realize that thing would be practically useless in a real combat situation, and further more was not designed for that purpose. I want a substantial handgun, and would prefer a long gun, but realize that is not always possible, most times. I refuse to carry a small gun knowing how inadequate they are for combat. Small guns are designed to be get off me guns, hand to hand tools. At my age, and with my disabilities, I don't do hand to hand very effectively, any longer. Since this is your first gun, do train yourself. My best advice, carry a substantial weapon. Wont be easy to carry, but one can dress around the gun. Like the guy on the Security Team realized, much too late, you wont be so under gunned, "HOPEFULLY". You will have a tool "Possibly" up to the job. Then it will be up to your Training, and your ability with an appropriate size revolver or pistol. My recommendation is nothing smaller than 38 Spl or 9 MM. Your opinion might be different, and that is O K. I pocket carry a 7 shot 357 mag revolver. This may anger some, but it is fact.

I also recommend starting with a .22. Get the fundamentals down first without recoil causing any bad habits. Cheap to practice with, can be used for self defense if necessary, and just plain fun.

For a first handgun, I recommend a quality .22. It's not as cool as a Glock or other 9mm. But it will work until you have the essential experience under your belt. It's hard to beat the Ruger automatic for price, accuracy, and reliability. If you feel self defense is the primary reason for getting a handgun, go with the Glock 17. It will be easier to learn with a full size pistol, and the Glock is as accurate and reliable as anything out there.

Guess I better call a lawyer and start a lawsuit against anyone who has made ice cream for the past 64 yrs, .

I blame the Manhattan.

Needed some meat for the freezer so I decided to shoot a nice young buck that walked by this morning. After a thorough search and not finding any blood I guess I missed him.