molonlabetn

I remember when the price crossed a buck, before I was old enough to drive, but that was when my dad started telling stories of the oil crisis during the '70s, when he worked at a gas station and the ration was on.

I'm sure the laughter stemmed from the joy of an overwhelming sense of safety which you experienced in their presence...

It's more than a bit extreme, but taking the sources with a grain of salt, this is a 'worst case' scenario: http://www.lifeaftertheoilcrash.net/ The implications of fossil-fuel decline have already been assessed by the tax-payees... so this is no surprise. But, do not assume that the need for 'change' will not be hand-in-hand with a social agenda which would not have been tolerated without a calculated 'crisis'.

If we could plan something like this out, maybe make a day-long event of some kind... I'd be all over it (with clothes on, of course). Natchez Trace has a pistol firing range... 731-968-5351 I'll give 'em a call this week to see how an event would go over, and get a sense of their accomodations. If anybody else knows of a range in that area, but not on State property, please post.

Considering that the rate of world-wide petroleum consumption will double in the next 20 years (a-la Chinese middle-class, and exponential population increase), and the declining petroleum refinement rate, gasoline will easily double in the next 5-10 years... This society will be able to absorb only a fraction of that, so unless we're to be blindly plunged into serious, economic depression, the efficiency per-capita in the US will need to increase by at least 50% in 10years, and after that 150% to remain sustainable... that means radical change in personal transportation. In order to offset the inefficiency of 'older', inefficient vehicles which will remain on the road, we're talking about a 150% increase in fuel economy for new vehicles right off the bat, in the next 10 years. That is impossible without eliminating (not just modifying or augmenting) the century++ old piston and gas-turbine engines. The technology exists. I'll leave it to speculation as to why no transition has yet been publicized... even in the most grossly-funded new military equipment which will effectively be obsolete in 10 years. To be quite honest, the next 10 years is all that any world power is concerned with, and rightfully so.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ No kidding!

We'll also start to see baseline mpg ratings begin to increase, from manufacturers, either by default or by government requirements... but, as mentioned, that will only really affect new car buyers. There aren't too many people who will buy a new vehicle for just a 10-25% increase in gas mileage. There will need to be a revolution in powerplant efficiency... and hybrid vehicles are not the way to go (as presently implemented). We're talking split-cycle non-reciprocating internal combusion engines of variable displacement and constant dynamic compression... Ethanol is a joke, unless engines are designed for it... that means more compression. As it is, most engines get ~90% of the gas mileage with 10% ethanol fuel... if you do the math, that means you're really burning the same amount of fuel to go the same distance... the ethanol is just a filler (presently). Electrochemistry is where it's at, with regards to ethanol, catalyze that ****, before burning the lower-grade byproducts in combustion... doing so would eliminate the need for parasitic mechanically-driven alternators AND lead-acid batteries... basically create a hybrid fuel-cell / IC engine. jeez... did I just ramble that much? Sorry.

I was hoping from the title that Obama had conceded... To be quite honest, I really don't care how much gasoline is taxed, it's a non-renewable resource which is declining in availability, we should expect for the cost of its use to increase until some other fuel is developed (I shouldn't say 'developed', I should say 'revealed'... since the only reason we're still on a fossil fuels dependent economy is to drain the middle-east dry more quickly so that we can all move on from making the sheiks rich in the next few decades)... In my opinion all consumer items should be taxed at a higher rate, and the income tax done away with, so that consumption is taxed, not production. Reducing tax on gas would simply mean that something else will be taxed more, it's simple economics. The gov't isn't just going to relinquish revenue without some way to recoup it. Obama is either an idiot or a snake... and I presume the latter.

Sounds like you prefer the G19 over the P2000... My only question is whether or not you shoot an M&P better than the Glock, to me it would make more sense to carry a smaller version of the gun you plan to 'game' with. I really don't think that you can really go wrong either way, but having a common platform is really a plus. I'd like to eventually have an XD-9 SubCompact to match my Tactical, set up the same way (trigger, sights, etc) only in a more compact size. (gotta decide on the .357mag revolver I want, first, though...) The P2000 is a nice pistol, but I think there's no question that something else would be better... again, my only advice is to reconsider an M&P... or maybe even a subcompact XD with a Pierce Mag-Grip extension, for commonality with your Tactical. A good trigger job on your XD would change you mind about wanting an M&P, methinks...

The FNP-45 is pretty big... it's about as concealable as a Glock 21 would be.

The Midsize M&P-45 is out... it is a good carry size, I got to fondle one at Hero-Gear the other day and was impressed.

Not if my wife and Tungsten's wife can make it.

Macs and Glocks... What have they DONE to you!?

Nice, the NG range is only 10min from my house. I'll have to make an effort to do that. I've been to Tommy's range, but not for several years... I can never manage to go there when someone is actually there, I'm not sure when it is 'open', since my understanding is that you have to check in or make an appointment... how do you coordinate with him?

That appears to be a 4 1/2" barrel on that gun, as well... it's shorter than the current Tactical, and longer than the Service. I wonder if they have done the smart thing and eliminated the distinction and went with the middle ground?

Thank you sir! Well, I don't think it really looks much different, just more bevel treatment of the slide, and a slightly different molded frame... but I bet the internals are pretty much still the same. If the capacity has really been improved that much, these will make awesome USPSA guns... (ponders ) They are unconventional looking... but not horribly so, I agree they resemble a P99 slightly. That's not a bad thing. I'm not into firearms as a fashion statement, in either case.

I don't stockpile... I just rotate large amounts by shooting and resupplying .

Strick, could you put them on the TGO Photo Album... I can't view them, and I'm on pins and needles here!

Don't have an actual picture yet, but here is a generic: Joe @ Hero Gear hooked me up yesterday afternoon with this puppy, and I am super impressed with the build quality so far. Haven't shot it yet, but a range report will follow probably this weekend. Here's an article with a few pics comparing the size with other double-stack .45s: http://www.tucsonguns.com/FNP-45.php Very similar in size to an XD-45, Glock 21SF, and M&P-45, but with a 14+1 capacity, and superior ergonomics. It points for me even better than an XD, and the sights are excellent. The DA/SA trigger is surprisingly smooth for the initial pull, feels to be about 10-12lb... the SA pull is phenomenal. Decocker operates smoothly, and the whole action is very simple yet refined. I'm looking forward to putting it through it's paces. My only issue is mine doesn't have the Safety and Decocker, just the Decocker, but hopefully when those become available I'll be able to get FN to upgrade mine to have this capability without too much trouble... I'd like to carry it cocked and locked, when I do carry it. ...speaking of carrying it, now I just have to wait for some holster manufacturers to pick up the slack, I know many have begun production... A big thanks to Hero Gear for getting me exactly what I wanted, and not giving me too much hell for buying another plastic pistol I swear, someday I will get around to buying another 1911! So, now I have an FN pistol to match my FN shotgun... what's next?

Nice... that equates to about 18rd of 9mm...

Are you a member of the Highland Rim Shooting Club? I've often considered joining that, but never know when the range is actually available. I shoot at Terry Walden's mostly, drive a green Camaro, if you see me be sure to say 'hi'.

If they truly improved the XD, I have no doubt that it's an awesome pistol. Plus, this one is likely to actually be a true American design instead of a Croatian import.

Niiiice... I can't wait to see a picture.

We used to have a system for this, as I recall... I don't know if we got rid of it due to glitches or what. It's worth revisiting though, I'm sure we can come up with something... even if it's simply posting feedback on a user's profile message board (which already exists).