molonlabetn

I'll trade ammo for bacon... (seriously)

If I knew somebody who could butcher me some home-grown bacon, I would be their friend forever (or until their pigs were gone).

Did somebody say bacon?!

Thanks, good to be back

True... From another angle though, I'd be willing to bet that the majority of folks here who have been carrying for more than a few years have changed carry weapons a number of times. So, getting one that is already broken in for ya, and is used enough to not bother you to put some holster wear on is truly a cost saving measure, since you'll likely upgrade before too long and lose whatever value a gun would have had being new. Above all, whether the gun is new or used, put anything you trust your life to through it's paces at least a few times, just to be sure... new doesn't mean flawless, and used doesn't mean no-warranty.

Just like some hunters think other gun-owners with so-called 'assault weapons' do... it's really the same argument, if you will. Some people try to colour a right as something with limits based on social perceptions, and enact legislation to take them away for emotional reasons, or reduce them to being percieved as priviledges... when in-fact no government ever granted any right, including this one, to have the authority to take it away. Laws don't create or remove rights... all they can do is define them, and those definitions are as imperfect as the humans who write or interpret them. Lucky are we to live in a country where the individual right of firearms possession is at least generally aknowledged.. But, when a majority agrees to ignore or be biased about something, it effectively creates a new temporary 'truth'. That's the real issue... back on topic, the idea is to educate the majority, not shock or fight them.

XDs are great pistols, in all of the frame-sizes... I have personally owned six of them, 2 the SC model, and they all performed flawlessly (even the ones I messed with the internals on, to improve the trigger). The only weak points on the gun are the long factory reset (which isn't a drawback to most, and can be adjusted easily if it is), and the striker retaining pin often failing after 6-10k rounds (which is replaceable within about 5 minutes, and the part is about a dollar). I never had any finish problems with any of mine. Springfield Armory customer service is impeccable, as well. If the XD-9SC fits your hand and shoots well for you, it sounds like a good bet. The bi-tone is just a looks thing, the slide material is the same. The prices you quoted are higher than I ever paid, but I guess everything has gone up a bit, not just ammo. I'd imagine you could get one used significantly cheaper... perhaps with aftermarket sights already installed.

Not sure about 'average', but I keep: 500-1000rd .45acp Target ammo 500rd .45acp JHP 1000-2000rd 9mm Target ammo 500rd 9mm JHP 1000-2000rd .223rem Milsurp 50-100rd 12ga Target shells 250rd 12ga 3" 000-Buck 100-200rd .38spl Target ammo ~50rd .357mag JHP

Having a means of protection and being prepared to implement it yourself is your responsibility... regardless of how you choose to do so. OC isn't a 'statement'... it's just nobody elses business, if that's your choice... That doesn't mean everybody won't be welcome to their own opinion about your actions or my actions... But flaunting it in their faces as if to say "I can do this and you can't stop me" isn't the point at all. In this state, OC is legal, and as long as it is not under attack legislatively there is no real 'activism' that can be accomplished by trying to turn a what-should-be-seen-as-normal mode of carry into some blatant statement... I would much rather that FEWER people care, and agree it is reasonable to conclude that if everyone who carried concealed now, carried openly it would eventually come to be seen as normal... but realistically, it is more convenient for most people to conceal... and that is (should be) the same reason some of us carry openly at times, because it's more convenient (for whatever reason, clothing choice, accessibility, environment, build, holster/weapon preference, etc...). OCing is sorta like those houses with the signs in the front yard indicating they have a security system... it's intended to be a deterrent (and in alot of cases it is). But it's not a social or political statement, and as such is not a 'responsibility' for anyone to do... it's just a choice, and I personally abhor ridiculous public demonstrations about choices, as if life was some kind of commercial. Good topic, yer right!

Benefits: 1. They are a great marketing tool for firearms companies. 2. They create alot of discussion on internet forums 3. They keep you from getting a nose full of blowback if you use a suppressor Basically, the gas piston AR (spearheaded by the HK416 upper), was intended to improve reliability in dirty conditions, and when the weapon was suppressed. According to other links/reviews posted in similar threads on this forum (search for "HK416" or "Gas Piston"), reliability was not really improved, and the increased maintenance requirements on having more small-moving parts negates any increase in reliability or ease of cleaning and increases the potential failure modes. The main advantage is when used with a suppressor, gas pressure is more easily controlled... that's about it though.

I like the MTAC best of the ones I have tried... Don't really carry the block enough to have tried more than a handful though. The Don Hume 721OT is comfortable as well, I have one of those for every handgun I own.

to OP: Good call... It's possible he already knew that, but if somebody brought your gun to their attention, they had to at least appear to do something.

It'll be easier on the gun than +p+ loads... Be careful upgrading recoil springs, the extra slide return velocity may hurt more than help (on small parts such as extractors, etc). A better idea, if you're worried about battering your lock block, etc, is to install a buffer.

I always take these type of encounters optimistically... since 50% of the population is below average, it cheers me up to realize that's not my crowd.

I had some... very loud, if nothing else. By all accounts the bullet expands so violently that it fragments and has very little penetration. Not exactly what I'm looking for. Ended up settling on 147gr +p Gold Dots from Double-Tap. IMO, it doesn't really matter as long as you can get several shots on target.

I'll crank it on wet pavement, just don't wanna get soaked.

I sometimes strap on the thigh rig when I go on an overnight ride. Other than that it's just whatever is more comfortable, or more appropriate for where I am going. Didn't carry much for a while either way though... have no preference really.

Gotta recommend something belt-fed, for this one... zombies travel in herds. And keep some molotovs handy, to slow them down. Not too worried about bigfoot or the abominable snowman, THEY aren't real.

Thank you Life's still wierd... always will be I guess. Means alot to not be the only one remembering. I haven't made the healthiest choices with regard to dealing with it, more often than not... but it'll all be ok. I do know that I have great friends, who gave me what I needed exactly when I needed it, more than I can repay. I know what you mean. Time is a great healer so far.

Looks like it will be raining, but I'll see if I can make it up that way. Will be on an '09 CBR1000RR in REPSOL colors.

7 in the tube, empty chamber for me... safety off. No real reason except that I have a pistol ready to go at all times, so the necessity to rack the gun (it's a semi-auto) is not a concern. Rifle is the same way... full mag inserted, empty chamber, safety off.

I had a nice conversation with an ATF agent recently at a local resturaunt... bought him a beer and picked his brain. It was interesting to note that ATF agents are human too... He had alot of good things to say about John Harris (a'la TFA), as a trial lawyer, being a formidable opponent in the courtroom and the only lawyer he would call if the shoe was on the other foot. I guess you can't be aquainted with too many people... I'd actually be interested in hearing what they have to say. I think it's a nice gesture that they would hold this type of event.

The new M&P Compact .45 is an awesome little pistol... a bit shy on capacity, compared to the Glock and XD, but It gets the nod for concealability and ergonomics.

I purchased a PT145 about 6 years ago, and kept it for about a year... I liked the size and the capacity (10+1 of .45acp is impressive in a compact pistol), the grip was pretty nice, as well. I didn't like the way the pistol disassembled, or it's rough, long, heavy, gritty trigger... neither was the pistol very accurate. Mine would also jam quite regularly on FMJ ammo, and would rarely feed hollowpoints. My analysis is essentially that it's not a bad gun, for the money, but there are much better choices... such as the XD-45 Compact or the Glock 30SF. I'd buy either one of those before I would another PT145, and I am not that big a fan of Glock... if that tells you anything.