PolePosition

Are there low profiles that still have good muffling? Or do low profiles generally require using plugs under. I do most of my shooting indoors but trying to look ahead when taking more classes so that I can have hearing protection + ability to hear people talk.

I'm currently using the Surefire EP5 plugs, which are NRR 26...so they are kind of my reference point since I like the protection they offer, but the downside being I can't hear when people try to talk to me.

What are some recommendations for Electronic Ear-Pro that do not require you to double up with plugs to get reasonable noise reduction (require NRR 26 or better), and are designed such you can also get a good cheekweld on rifle/shotgun stocks?      

RUSA has its place. I think it is good for non-tactical civilians (like myself) to get introduced to training. I took their Self-Defense Handgun class after getting my HCP. It was a good class and was non-intimidating and I think they designed it to be that way, and even "fun". But for more advanced training I think other sources may be better to really push one to their points of failure.   From what I recall of researching Ronin a while ago, I think it is easier to get a class if you already have a group of 10 people ready to sign up. That way, they have a definite class committed for them to set aside a date for. Randy from Suarez is similar, since he travels. I think his classes are 2 day classes though, and cost more as well.   LE/MIL seems to only be of value when you require training such as squad training, shoot house, etc. ie, performing exercises that are needed in LE/MIL environments...but for most purposes, really any good trainer can teach you fundamentals, weapons manipulation, drills, etc.   Maybe we can try to get a group going for a class next year or something?

RangeMasters and Ronin Strategies are Memphis-area training options.   I've heard good things about Ronin from Wes Grant of MSTN but have not known anyone else that has participated in their classes. Wes really recommended their rifle classes, but I assume he also liked their pistol classes since his picture is on one of their pistol class pictures on their website.   RangeMasters is another recommended place and they are an actual shooting range as well. Tom Givens, their lead instructor, is quite well known. However, I find their regular staff at the range to not be as friendly as the staff from Range USA. I think I may eventually sign up for some classes there but whenever I've called or visited the range itself, I just get extremely turned off haha.

Glad to know that she has been found. Just posted this on FB and came here to see updates, and saw the good news. Praise God.

What make vehicle? Near the Bartlett area, for Mazda's (RX7's and Miata's are their specialty but they do regular Mazda's too) I like Wiggin's Car Care on Old Whitten past Range USA; for Toyota's, Harris Quon Auto Service on Elmore Rd/Raleigh Lagrange; and for Honda's Precision Honda on Pleasant View.   I've used all of them in the past and have had good experiences.

Palmetto State Armory has complete rifles with optics (choice of Eotech, Aimpoint, or Leopold) for $999.99   http://palmettostatearmory.com/index.php/

  I much prefer the Raptor. I still have one of the gen 1 Gunfighters, but got rid of the rest after I tried the Raptor. I also had the ambi Gunfighter but i just really like the ergonomics of the Raptor. Can't imagine going back to standard CH's or any other BCM variant. Even if the Raptor wasn't ambi, I'd still get it, simply because of the mechanism and ergonomics. You can always sell the Raptor if you don't like it. 

Welcome fellow Memphian

  Range USA in Jackson is rifle rated. I think it is only 25 yards but better than nothing. Just a half hour past that is Natchez Trace state park with a free outdoor range. I don't think there are any other locations closer than that, that do not require a fee. 

Chance has always treated me well in the past. Didn't know he was on this forum...how much was the Magpul 870 by the way? I've been mulling over getting one whenever I can sell some other stuff.

I use Federal HST's due to data supporting their greater efficacy over its predecessor, the Hydra-Shok (I don't remember the primary literature, as it has been a while) but it is a tested, reliable defense round.   I also use CCI/Speer Gold-dots. I haven't read the data on those, but it is what my local LEO's carry, so I figured if it is good enough for them, it is good enough for me. And I have purchased both brands for good prices and they run flawlessly in all of my handguns. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately) I do not have firsthand experience in using them against live targets.   Honestly, all of the major brands, as long as they feed properly in your weapon, and you have proper shot placement, will put a hurting on somebody.

That is why I am thankful for grace. No amount of arguing convinced me that God is the creator of the universe and His Son Jesus restored my relationship with Him through His death on the cross, resurrection resulting in the empty tomb, and the promise of His eventual return. It was purely through God reaching down and intervening in my life and opening my mind and heart to who He is that I am now a Christian.   I wasn't born a Christian and do not have Christian parents. I have had many debates with friends who used to be skeptics in the past, even staunch atheists, and yet we can all attest that nobody argued us into faith. Sure I understand "science" (quotation marks because many treat science as some type of nebulous entity almost like a deity in and of itself) and work in health care. I've studied and seen many things that modern "science" cannot explain. God is the author of science. We humans merely discovered natural phenomena and apply our best efforts to study and explain that which we do not understand.    At the end of the day who CARES how old the earth is? Let me say that it is not going to make or break anyone's faith in God or in anything else. I pray that Oh Shoot and anyone else with his same mentality will one day receive the knowledge and love of Jesus. People say that Christians are haters, and that may be true for some Christians. But our message is one of peace, love, and reconciliation. Non-Christians can hate us all they want, kill us all they want, and discriminate against us all they want. But guess what? We will continue to share the love we have received anyways.

Do those Condor vests fit smaller people as well? Like 5'9 140 lbs? I realize I'm probably nowhere near the size of their target audience lol but its worth a shot asking.

Everyone pretty much sells the same brands from my experience. Galco and Bianchi I think are the two major brands with leather holsters that the local shops carry. Guns and Ammo on Summer Ave has large selection. If you're staying in Cordova, you can try Classic Arms on Dexter and Germantown Pkwy or Arms Fair on Trinity and Germantown Pkwy. Both of those are smaller shops but they may have what you are looking for. You could always call them first before wasting a trip as well. Classic Arms and Arms Fair are better at answering the phone than Guns and Ammo in my experience. With G&A you'll just have to goto the store to peruse their wares, but they are the largest store in Memphis.

I follow Christ, am highly educated, well-spoken, and successful. I also happen to be nonwhite.   Have I been the victim of racism by my white counterparts? YES! Is it unjustified? YES!   Granted, there are minorities, who are uneducated, unsuccessful, and continue to play the race card because they feel entitled to certain benefits without putting in due diligence. Like someone above said, you have to take advantage of the opportunities presented to you yourself.   Racism, however, is very real. It is not as black and white as some may think. Even minorities who do the right thing are treated as second-class citizens because they are not white. I've been passed over by less educated, less professional, and less fruitful whites. I've been ridiculed, denied service, and even attacked because I am not white. Now, I don't cry about it because I belong to the Lord and He blesses me in ways He sees fit. I would be remiss to turn a blind eye to racism because it exists and cannot be ignored. Whether people want to acknowledge it or not, whites do have an advantage over minorities.

I like how she has her finger hooked around the trigger. How can somebody who cannot even hold a firearm in a safe manner, decide what Americans can and cannot possess?

  Cool, thanks. I just placed an order from Amazon.

What are some good web sources to acquire some?

Welcome from Bartlett. I love my M&P's as well!

Took her to the range today to rent some guns. Unfortunately, they did not have any Sig's or Walther's in .380, which surprised me since they are a Sig Master Dealer. They only had one Sig in their whole rental case. Nevertheless, we tried out the Ruger LCP and whatever the Kahr .380 is called. She HATED them. Easier to rack, sure, but she said the recoil was terrible and disliked the feel of the small guns. So then I rented some 9mm's and went over some of the techniques mentioned above. We rented a G19, XD9 compact, and SR9C. She was able to rack them all!   Out of all 5 guns, and her previous experience with my M&P's, she decided that she liked the Ruger SR9C the best by far. Which was surprising to me, since I had never shot one before, but after trying it, I could see why she liked it. Fit well in the hand very well (we have smallish hands) and has a great trigger. The trigger pull was very short and light. Her ranking on the trigger was SR9C > M&P9 with Apex upgrades > Glock. No reset sensation whatsoever, but I could overlook that given the great feel otherwise.The sights are interesting, as it has a large front dot, and smaller rear dots, to draw attention to the front. I like that, but I shoot the best with no rear dots and she prefers that as well.   So the final verdict is that we'll be looking to get an SR9C, after I find who has it in stock locally. The gun range said they don't get many in stock at their distributor because it is so popular. After purchase, next on the list is to improve her accuracy and trigger control lol.

Thanks for all the input! I'll report back with something hopefully this week or next.

Thanks for the suggestions on the .380's. I'll see if our local range has any of those Walthers or Sigs for rental to check out.

What type of semiauto's would be easy to rack for a small woman? My gf is unable to efficiently manipulate my S&W M&P9C and M&P9 Pro (and by efficiently, I mean unable to pull the slide far enough back to chamber a round). She has tried a friend's G19 and could pull back the slide a little easier, but she still found it pretty difficult. I've tried to teach her different techniques but she seems to just not have the strength.   So what are my options for her to try out? 9mm preferred, as I have plenty of ammo, but would entertain other options (although ammo scarcity might make it prohibitive).