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What I have to share may mean little to nothing to most, but please allow me to share a moment in my life. My dear mother, Frances from Chattanooga, died in November, 2017 after a fall and a TBI. Mom loved her home in Chattanooga (the only one I ever knew) and she hated leaving it in 2012 after breaking her hip. Mom moved to Nashville and lived with my wife and me after selling the home in Chattanooga. Mom was "happy" with us in Nashville, but her heart remained in Chattanooga at the "old home place." In celebration of her 87th birthday in 2017, we took mom to a cabin in Monteagle where she fell and was life flighted to Vanderbilt. Their valiant efforts stopped the bleed with no guarantee it would not restart, which it did a week later. There was nothing more that could be done for a severely ill 87 year old woman. Mom went to hospice on Thursday and died peacefully on Saturday. Mom was cremated (her request) and we had a celebration service for her life in late November, 2017. In 2018 we spread some of her ashes in Monteagle because she loved the place so much. Years before her death she wanted some of her ashes spread in the Smokies because we loved vacationing there. This will occur this week when my wife and I go back to the Smokies for the first time since her death. At some point we will go home to Chattanooga and spread the rest of Mom's soul at the house she loved so much. Today I offered some ashes at our home, the last one where she lived. I'm not asking for sympathy or sad remembrances. I am 64 years old and as I look back over my life, all becomes full circle. I humbly ask that all of you consider the relationships that mean the most to you while they are alive, cherish every moment with the hope that when those times end, you may remember them all with a smile. Tonight in honor of my Mom, I'm having her favorite drink: a Screwdriver (vodka and orange juice). As much as I loved Mom, I always had to make the drinks, because when she made them, they were about 95% vodka and 5% orange juice. Thank you for allowing me to share.

After a short wait, I finally picked up my M&P 2.0 C.O.R.E. a few days ago. I’ve been a fan of the M&P since the original 1.0. I continue to be impressed with the refinements made to the 2.0 line. Now that Smith is finally pushing out the 2.0 C.O.R.E. in non-Performance Center models, the M&P 2.0 C.O.R.E. is everything the M&P 2.0 should have been from the start.

I discovered this video after pandora randomly ran this on my feed and I went in search of Terry's solo. I'm pretty sure I've watched it around 100 times now

Just a tip for anyone intending to attend Tulsa or Louisville Shows. They usually have an early pass to get in on the setup days, Tulsa called them Phantom Tables, don't recall what LV called theirs. Well worth the extra $$. Also consider staying for all the days of the show as 1 day simply isn't enough. There was a person who calculated that if one walked the entire Tulsa show they would have about 15 seconds to view every table. BTW: The Tulsa Drillers Expo is about 12 Acres under one roof. Like I said, just a few tips from one who's spent a lot of time at both shows. Wear Comfortable Shoes!! Tulsa Expo has the hardest concrete in the world.

RIP Neil Peart.

I know several of you are already familiar with Marko Kloos and have read many of his works. In case you haven't seen this before, I thought I would post it here. I take time to read it from time to time to reinforce the magnitude of carrying a gun for SD. https://munchkinwrangler.wordpress.com/2008/07/24/i-am-bullet/ I am bullet.I am lead and copper, brass and nickel, powder and primer.I am chemistry, metallurgy and physics.Load me into a chamber, and I will fire when struck by a firing pin, no matter who pulls the trigger, and no matter where I am aimed.Once I am fired, you cannot recall me, or redirect me. I will freeze your decision, right or wrong, in the very fragment of time it takes for you to pull that trigger, with no way for you to undo it.No prayer, no regret, no bribe can alter my path.I can pierce air, paper, drywall, wood, and flesh.I can take everything away from a person: their thoughts, memories, hopes, fears, and dreams. I can take everything they were, everything they are, and everything they’re going to be.I can take a life, for whatever reason: good or bad, right or wrong, intentional or accidental.I am a piece of metal, mindless and inert. I have no morals, no intentions, no desires, and no ethics. I take on all those values from you when you launch me out of that barrel.Do not pull that trigger lightly, because you are responsible for the path I take, the target I hit, and the damage I inflict.Pull the trigger with respect, with resolve, with trepidation, or even with dread if you must–but you must never pull that trigger lightly.

It works until it breaks. My S&W 642's hammer pivot pin broke off the frame after a couple of years, so yes even quality revolvers break.

I doubt that.

The old GALLATIN range moved to Macon county. It is on Dry Branch Road off of highway 10, south of Lafayette. Less than a half an hour from GALLATIN.

Checking the show lists for number of tables leads me to believe 500 tables is about the biggest you will find within a days drive from middle/east TN? Iv been to Lebanon, Chilhowie and the other Knoxville show. Also the Shriners down in Chatt. Am I spoiled from the 1000 and 750 8' table shows up in PA or what. I was most fond of the Allentown PA show with the huge amount of antiques if nothing but to stare at and the tables full of all sorts of gun parts. Its a collectors show with a couple tables of just spencer carbines from one guy in collector to shooter grade. Lots n lots of WWII stuff, tables full of original swords and not shy on meat on the table guns. The 1000 table show in Harrisburg PA is more high end stuff but still 2 hours if you do a real fast glance around. I was really hoping to find these sort of shows down here that would make a good all day trip but so far..... there ok but nothing to get to excited about by comparison. Now I know some of the best deals may be found at small shows occasionally but sometimes you just want to drown in eye candy! So any big show favorites worth mentioning?

I’ll recommend a couple of good, small shows: Cave City, KY and Sparta, TN.

Prayers for you loss, luckyforward. I lost my mother 12 years ago as she slipped from this realm because of Alzheimer's. I hope to join her in the next realm, after my departure down the road, or maybe before tomorrow! . All things are possible with God and Jesus. Mercy, grace, and peace comes through them.

"I always tell people love them while you have them". It sounds like you dearly did. God bless.

Uh-Oh...

Semiauto cartridges headspace on the case mouth in single actions.

Last night on Netflix I watched the Movie “Walk Ride Rodeo”. It’s the true story of Amberley Snyder who was paralyzed after a wreck, and her battle to get back in the saddle. She is now a popular motivational speaker. Huh, imagine that. I wish I had known as I was watching it that she performed all the post-crash horse stunts in the film. And her younger sister Autumn performed the pre-crash stunts. It’s a good family movie.

Prayers for you. You honored your mom greatly.

Some interestin things here, not the least of which is Pop Pop' s insightful post above... As ive gotten older, two things have come to me, personally... First, ya need to carry or have with you a weapon you trust and are familiar with... There is no substitute for burnin lots of powder, and a " full size " gun makes that lots easier to do for everybody, no matter the age... Second, im big on the " two gun " idea... One physically on ya all the time, and a " full size " or " big gun " close at hand... Be it in the car, the truck, the RAZR, tractor, golf cart, or whatever... It dont matter if its a semiauto (..which i now prefer...), a big revolver (... like my 30 yr old and Pop pop prefer..), a sawed off shotgun, an AR ... ya get the picture... The main thing is to be able to shoot, n shoot well... The full size pistolas fill that bill for us old curmudgeons very well... Im always thrilled when i see us older guys at the range totin a great big bag, with a great big pistol... leroy...

My daily carry is a 2" 357 Mag 7 shot Taurus mdl 617 pocket carry or a MP 9C 2.0 15 shot with 4" brl carried IWB or belt slide, or both. The revolver is a K frame size revolver, if you are familiar with the K frame mid size, and the MP is a mid sized to full size pistol, call it a tween size(not full size but not small). My bedside revolver is a Mdl 629 44Mag/44Spl which I keep loaded with 44 Spl ammo. If one is forced to use either, one will want the largest gun available so why not have one at hand. At 71 Y O, with health issues, that is my choices and yes I own several J-frames and smaller semi auto pistols(Kahr P 9, Kahr PM 40, Colt Pocketlight 380 etc), but I choose bigger because I can shoot them better. I dress around the gun. Yes, I purchase, and utilize mid to full size handguns, all the time, and have a preference for them. These market items are not dead by any means. I have an 8 shot 5" brl 38Spl/357Mag on my bucket list, at this time, and would purchase one for my bedside gun, but just have not put out the coins (900 to $1000) "YET". I pray, daily, that I will never be forced to use one of the guns, but "if forced too", hope I will be up to the challenge.

Did anyone ever try this? I'm going to play with it as soon as my fiber optic sights arrive in the mail. My thoughts were to paint the housing under the tubes with glow paint

I use Ammoseek.com. Not only can you compare prices, but they rate shipping costs as well.

It is great that you are able to fulfill her wishes. May the memories be happy ones!

You know what? That's a really good idea. Fingers crossed for SHOT!

A beautiful tribute. Lost my dad 10 years ago when he was 61. Thanks for sharing.

A toast in honor of your mom and a life well lived.

I had seen this passed around several times in other locations, but didn't know that Kloos was the author. Thanks for the posting of this. It's a VERY sobering read.

Please allow me to offer prayers of love for you all. A few years further back when my Mom was lost. Some similarities in the situation...a fall, moving in with us, declining health. So my offer of understanding and empathy is a bit of sharing as well. I can hear and feel she raised a good son who has done right by her during and after her life. Blessing be upon you.

I'm going to hold you to that and want to come with!

Don’t mistake holiday sales and factory rebates for the norm. We currently have the lowest ammo prices in a decade but that might very well change by the end of the year.

Ive carried and shot Underwood Ammo's LeHigh Defense load .380m+P in my LCP for a while now. It is snappy yes, but after a 13# recoil spring replacement Ive found it more than manageable. Out of the super short barrel it still sees 1000ft/sec+ typically https://www.underwoodammo.com/collections/handgun-ammo/products/380-acp-p-90-grain-xtreme-penetrator?variant=18785708113977

Never knew until today that Peart wrote the lyrics for most Rush songs.

Maybe this will help with the lube job.

LOL!! Very well said my friend.

Be prepared to stay all day, both days. Still won't see it all. Amazing show.

The Alabama Show in Birmingham. I think they have it twice a year. My son and I went a couple of years ago........took us all day to make our way through the entire show. Lots and lots of collectors’ exhibits plus lots and lots of for sale new and old. I plan to go again this year.

Louisville. National Gun Day.

I generally carry either a G34 or G17 but have been spending a fair amount of time lately with a full size Sig320 . The only time I carry anything smaller than a full size pistol is if wardrobe simply will not allow a full size pistol to be carried. And since IWB carry makes barrel length irrelevant in regards to concealability, anything that I can wear a belt and an untucked shirt with allows me to carry a full size pistol. Now if I'm stuck with having to tuck in my shirt and I cannot wear a coat or vest to cover it due to weather (too hot) or "dress code" (leaving jacket or suit coat on would be out of place) then yes a pocket carried or ankle carried gun is going to need to be smaller than full size. But barring overriding wardrobe issues, a full size pistol is what I chose to carry every day. Smaller pistols are generally easier to conceal.... Just like a "Smart Car" takes up less space in your garage and gets better gas mileage than a full size car....but the Smart Car has no storage space and is not ideal for adult size humans to drive comfortably for long trips....just like a subcompact or a Jframe are often not comfortable to practice with (which leads to people carrying guns for the purpose of saving their lives that they don't ever practice with....YIKES ). A J-frame (or a subcompact auto) is easier to carry if you dress like you are going to work out at the gym or if you chose to dress in skinny jeans and tapered shirts....but they suck to fight with compared to full size pistols.... and I was always under the assumption that I was carrying a gun in case I actually had to use it...not just as a pacifier to make me feel better or as a talisman to ward off evil . As such I want the most effective and easiest to fight with gun I can carry.

This is my everyday carry, Dan Wesson Guardian in 45acp, RGrizzle holster. Get a good belt and it carries well. During the summer I use either an XDS 3.3 in 45 or a Sig P938, hard for me to hide the Guardian under a tee shirt even with a IWB holster.

I used to. I love a good 1911 but capacity trumps caliber. I want as many rounds as possible at my disposal between reloads. If you're thinking 9mm in a 1911 style gun, why not go to a 2011 in 9mm instead? It's the platform you love, just better because it's a double-stack.

Mmm....but max capacity doesn't necessarily dictate FS (double-stack Glocks come to mind). That said, yah, I keep a G17 (in a CAA MCK chassis, red-dot, light, sling, extra 17rd mag in the slot) bed-side. But along with that, my SC EDC which holds 14rds (Beretta Storm PX4 & Olight Valk mini 2). Capacity doesn't require FS as much so as in the past. As for the OP's post, my last purchase was the Storm and I doubt I'll be buying any more FS guns....not that I wouldn't like to do so. But I'm living on a fixed income now so if it's not for EDC I'll have to pass. At the range I mainly train with what I carry.

My last gun purchase was a full size 1911. A 1943 model from the CMP Prior to that was a S&W M&P9

As long as I have my own house with my own nightstand next to my own bed, there will be a full sized pistol within. Maximum capacity. Compacts are for carrying.

Reloading 9mm does not make sense, since it is so cheap and plentiful. That is unless you desire a specialized load that isn't readily available. Where reloading comes into it's own with me is with oddball calibers and non standard loadings. I can buy 9mm as cheaply as I can load it. If it goes bang, it's good. I can save a LOT of money loading 41 Magnum, 257 Roberts, and 218 Bee for example. I can also recreate the old 38/44 loads not available for purchase today. I can load walnut hull media for shooting carpenter bees. I can do all manner of experimentation not available in commercial offerings, such as a 110 grain powder puff load for a 30-30. Reloading has it's place, and isn't for everyone. I do believe you are correct that fewer and fewer people are doing it.

I am very well stocked. I was just bemoaning the debacle of finding one can of powder that used to be on store shelves almost everywhere. The internet is killing mom and pop stores. I am guilty of contributing to this by ordering a lot of stuff online.

I have no problems reloading them. I've always thought, what's the point of the .40? It was designed for women and effeminate men.

Excellent post! The only reason I never got on the 40 S&W bandwagon was, when the 40 got popular, I was still shooting on the ARCOM Rifle Team and I was getting all the rifle and pistol ammunition I wanted. That included 9mm. I saw no reason to add another caliber to the mix. I resisted that idea, even after I left the Army Reserve. It's just been recently that I added calibers other than 9mm and .45ACP to my collection. In the last few years, I've added .32ACP, .380ACP and .38/357. Still don't feel the need to add .40 S&W to the mix, though, so your ammunition isn't going to dry up anytime soon, because I'm out buying loads of it.

"It’s never seen the kind of popularity achieved by the .40S&W cartridge that came out four years prior." Whaaaaat?? How can that be? Joking aside, His comments about the psychological effects are spot on (IMO). My distrust for the 9MM and .380 doesn’t come from ballistic tests; it comes from what I have seen with my own eyes, coupled with science. Also, if someone that has never been in, or seen a shooting, is told enough that a 9mm is the best self defense round made; they may start to believe it. Even to the point where they disregard other things they know; like physics. And people that have been in shootings, and the round they used, did exactly what it was supposed to do; that’s the ultimate proof for them, what else could they possibly need. We've seen stories of well placed shots with a .45ACP failing to stop a person; there are many variables. I never had any reason to try .357SIG. It was a high price designer round that never caught on, much like the 10mm. The only real claim I ever saw was barrier penetration, shooting through a car door or through a windshield. The downside for me was the necked case; feeding short rounds in a handgun is already an issue without throwing that in on top of it; no need to risk it. But I don't see any problem with the .357SIG being able to get the job done.

I've reached the point that I don't need anything. I have guns to cover all occasions. So I just buy what I like. Had to think about it. The last compact I got was about a 1 1/2 ago when I traded for a Sig P239. Everything I've bought since has been full size.

Little Feat, Waiting for Columbus