Dennis1209

I said something similar as I was walking out of Walmart with my limit of one little package of hamburger at twice the normal price. Speaking of price and availability of products; for a number of reasons I think what we're experiencing is going to be the new normal, or at the very least last a long time? Just like famine, it's not that food isn't available, it's the price that is prohibitive or government / controlling forces restricting it. This time next year in hindsight, I could be thinking what a bargain 9mm was for $0.43 per round was, I wish I had bought more. 8/22/2021 USPSA / IDPA: Due to shortages and the overwhelming amount of requests, we have added three new divisions; spear chucking (SC), optical sling shot (OSS) and tactical target rock (TTR). Rock can only be made of [insert material here], weigh no more than 4 ounces, a diameter of no more than 0.50 inches, with a PF of no more than a Nolan Ryan fastball. Wind ups and hesitations are prohibited in Production and Carry Rock (CR) divisions. Exceptions: Super seniors may wind up as they hesitate because of their age; unintentional trips and falls to the ground, there will be a three second procedural, and no longer a D.Q. as long as the rock doesn't break the 180 rule or is discharged. Yea, I got better things to do, but I'm waiting for daylight

I have a couple of buddies that reload, and I thought I'd buy me the Dillon equipment to start reloading myself during the two year Obamazation shortage. Along with no one being able to obtain ammo, no one could find powder or primers for reloading, so everyone was still in the same boat. It's more expensive but, it's just easier for me to stock up on ammo rather than everything needed to reload. And at my age, I only have so many bend overs to pick up casings, maybe 4 or five?

There's nothing like having to buy something shooting related "twice". I've learned a couple of financial lessons here lately, for example: I won't name the company but, I ordered a competition rig [both belts, hanger and holster] and it wasn't cheap [$200.00+]. There wasn't a lot of information on their website on this rig and its components, so I sort of took it on faith it is going to function properly. Being left-handed there's not a huge selection of competition holsters and hangers to choose from. Anyway, my gear arrived the other day and I was putting it together and noticed how flimsy everything was. The belt / holster hanger was made of 'plastic' and flexes under weight. Got it together and put it on, holstered my heavy Walther Match Q5 steel frame and the muzzle of the pistol immediately points to my thigh, with no way to adjust it out. It's not a comfort having the bottom of the holster pointing and resting against your thigh, and it makes the draw awkward and unnatural. I'll forego the other problems and quality of the rig. I got a tip from someone on here about the Ben Stoeger Pro Shop and checked them out [never heard of them]. I've ordered a number of shooting related items from them since and the quality of everything exceeded my expectations. Gots me a real competition rig with a metal hanger now. Had to communicate with them a couple of times about my orders and they were great. Each time I ordered something it was shipped the very same day. Their pricing is very competitive and they don't sell any junk. Whom ever is was that gave me the tip; thank you! Another piece of junk going into my overflowing big box of discarded holsters. How many of you have that big box of discarded holsters and what do you do with them?

I haven't done the research here but, I'm going to make some assumptions on the character of these radicals and anti-American's; they're cowards and self centered. They've most likely never served in the military, Peace Corp, Scouts, etc. or did anything selfless for the interests of our country, their neighbor or their communities. They need a crowd, gang and/or support for their 'bravery'. Just like cockroaches when they're forcefully confronted [think Koreans on roof tops], scatter to their damp dark abodes. Most likely they don't like hard labor to earn a living, don't want to improve themselves nor their communities or living environment; and have the entitlement mentality and socialist views [use owes me]. A rational and reasonable person would view their acts and deeds as evil. This 'evil' and the tearing down of America is openly being coddled and condoned by many politicians and the major news media; and is not being seriously confronted by the silent majority or patriotic Americans. When will enough be enough??? Our Constitutional Republic is being destroyed one city, county and state at a time.

Fortunately I'm up early for a Steel Challenge match this A.M. and thought I'd check my email. Three hours ago [about 3:00 A.M.] I received an alert from "Freedom Munitions" they now have round nose, factory new, 115 grain in stock. At .43 cents a round pretty pricey but, what ya going to do, what if things continue and get worse? After my match today when I get home, I'm going to check and see if it's all sold out by then? Just a heads up. Edit: Sure nuff, they were sold out that afternoon. They did still have some 115 grain hollow points for 50 something cents a round though. Now every double tap I shoot I'll be thinking, dollar, dollar, dollar...

Now I find out after I get soaked... Thanks for the info and links, I just ordered a couple of the empties that will work great for some other odds and ends such as my small tools, foam ear plugs, etc. Thanks again!

I guess I'm a little late to the party. Next month I'm going out of state to attend a two day USPSA match, what I'll take is only what I'll have. To make a long story short, I'll want to give my pistol a cursory cleaning and lube after day one. I was looking around the house for some sort of 'box' to fit the minimal cleaning supplies I'll need to fit in my range bag; and was coming up with all sorts of misfits. Then I remembered Otis made a small round kit that would conveniently store in my range bag and I ordered one. It came in and I inspected the contents and size, yea this will work, well thought out and quality components. Room enough inside to add a few more of my own 9mm patches. To bad my small can of CLP wouldn't fit inside Maybe a little pricey at 50 bucks but, for the convenience, size and components; this will work out well for traveling. Now to find the travel size shampoo, shaving cream, soap, etc. [Dollar Tree maybe?].

Henry County Gun Club (HCGC) hosts monthly Level I club Steel Challenge and USPSA matches in Puryear, TN. [N.W. Tennessee]. Steel Challenge matches are held every 4th Saturday, USPSA matches are held every 2nd Saturday. Sign in starts at 8:00 A.M. with safety briefing prior to the 9:00 A.M. start time. Preregistration is not required but encouraged through Practiscore https://practiscore.com/results?page=1 as we try to limit the event to 40 shooters. Match fees are $20.00 for non members and $15.00 for members. For more information and driving directions, please visit our website at http://www.henrycountygunclub.com/

Trying to make my pistol matches more enjoyable and efficient at my ripe old age. At my local club [and many other places], the shooting bays are a couple hundred yards apart. The last couple of matches it poured down rain or was extremely hot and sunny. I was constantly running over to my ammo at another shooting bay, running to the truck to get a cold drink, umbrella, camping chair or something. There's got to be a better way. I noticed a guy from another squad [didn't get a chance to talk to him] that had something like pictured below modified for range use. It sure would be nice to have a stroller to roll around with my small cooler, umbrella, ammo, small chair, etc. between stages to make it more convenient. Does anyone know if one of these strollers are made for the outdoor shooting range? I've searched and couldn't find any? Shouldn't be too difficult to buy a jogging stroller and modify it, but I'd be paying for the seat, netting, etc. that I would have no use for.

Up, up and away. Considering tax and shipping, two bangs for a buck. Someone once recently said, "Sure glad I'm not hunting ammo right now". Same here! But I will resupply when and if things return to a semblance of normalcy. With my matches and practice, I'm going through about 500 rounds a month. At that rate I have one years worth...

Eight years ago, that would have been reasonable and logical common sense. Look at the people getting arrested and charged today with brandishing a weapon in self defense against the hostile social warriors and racists. Today in this pacifist climate, if you have to show a pistol, you best be the first one to call 9-1-1; because the criminal, social justice warrior or racist most likely will. Deep do do and expense... If you're in a bad neighborhood with witnesses, whom do you suppose those 'witnesses' are going to side with? Personally speaking; in this new social warrior climate with pacifying, justifying and condoning criminal assault and aggression, I'll have second thoughts showing a handgun. The liberal news media and government officials have already convicted and branded you even prior to the facts coming out. Our country is in deep moral, social and legal trouble like never before.

I haven't checked out US Law Shield but will. What I'm seeing with this shift in public insanity these days and no respect for the law and law enforcement, is innocent people being thrown under the bus to pacify the criminals, social warriors, protesters and rioters. I'm seeing more and more innocent people being charged for criminal assault just for even drawing their weapon to protect themselves. Just the fact of being arrested and/or charged sticks with you. Without financial ruin, I couldn't hire a competent lawyer in the unlikely event I had to un-holster to defend. You have to ask yourself, where are these confrontational people and groups, protesters and threatening people doing the assaults getting lawyers from and how are they paying for it?

The charcoal color and texture of the Talon grips looks terrible and unappealing on the grip in my opinion. But, later on this morning at my USPSA competition, when my hands are wringing sweat; I'm going to think to myself, who cares; it's not slipping around in my hand. Hoping to hear, "TWO ALPHA" all day long

Yea, based on his video, other reviews, the features and especially the price; I have other pistols screaming they want one on them too... I never considered one because of the recall and problems they had when they first came out.

Just a suggestion if you are trying to decide what red dot is right for you. There's this pistol instructor guy on Youtube under "Sage Dynamics". He's really experienced and knowledgeable, and has some great videos covering and testing many red dot brands, the pros and cons. You can tell he doesn't have a horse in the race and he tells it like it is.

I'm a relatively new red dot shooter with the same problem most have starting out; picking up the dot. I understand it takes time, patience and practice and is a perishable skill. Now having two red dots, one on my Canik TP9-SFX and on a Walther, I've noticed a difference in acquisition time between the two. The Canik has the Vortex Venom and Walther the Trijicon RMR. I pickup the Vortex dot faster for some reason, I attributed it to the sight itself. Watching a Youtube video not long ago, I discovered a guy with the same conclusion and observations, but it doesn't have much to do with the optic. There's something about the grip angle that's more natural in an accurate push out presentation? Like most things I thought it was just me? I wasn't crazy about buying a Turkish gun but I wanted an affordable dedicated match gun for competition. I think I paid $450.00 total for the Canik TP9-SFX and I was pleasantly surprised in its construction and performance. Not one problem with it, save ammunition related problems with a bad batch. I blew my $1,200.00 government stimulus check stimulating Walther, for the tune of about $1,900.00. I found out what a crappy trigger feels like zeroing in both the Walther and Canik at the range at the same time. I never really notice differences just playing around manually feeling it. With a bench supported rest zeroing them in, the Canik trigger was smooth and crisp. The expensive Walther Q5 Pro Match is rough, scratchy and a hard pull. The Canik came with three optic plates and a bunch of goodies. During my diligent research, the Walther also comes with three optic plates in the box, or so I thought. When I got my Walther it had no optic plates in the slots in the box and I was disappointed to say the least. I asked my LGS what's the deal on that and he said he would find out why. Long story short: We both checked it out and had difficulty finding an answer until much later when I finally got a response from Walther; that they stopped including them last May so as not to increase the cost of the gun. I could go to their website and order one free. It's buried so deep in their website I couldn't find it so emailed again. A few weeks later I finally got my one free optic plate. Shooting them both after zeroing the red dots, I was shooting the Canik much better. It was 92 degrees, high humidity and my hands were extremely sweaty. I have the Talon aggressive texture wraps on the Canik and I had a good solid non slip grip. The Walther I could feel it slipping around in my hand like a wet bar of soap. So, I'll be shooting my Canik at the USPSA match Saturday for a better score because my hands will be wet from the heat. Wow, this turned out to be a doctorial thesis.

I'm starting to like those red dots. As we're all aware, most things gun related are becoming hard to get. I've found so far higher price items like expensive pistols, Trijicon red dots, etc. can still be found. Standing at the Bass Pro Shop counter examining that tiny little Trijicon one inch cube of steel and glass, that I could barely feel any weight. I thought to myself, Dennis, are you really going to fork out $500.00 + for that tiny cute little optic??? Don't even mention it to the wife, she wouldn't understand man logic.

When there I was thinking about the first time I went there shortly after I moved down here. I guess it must have been around 2010 or 2011? The wife and I made that long two hour drive, and when we got there, they were flooded and closed. Didn't hear or know a thing about it? Anyway, it was pouring so hard for so long I thought I was going to be a part of a repeat. Their employees and myself had a hard time finding where their umbrellas were. We finally found them, they were tiny, cheap and not worth purchasing. You'd think they would carry decent beach type umbrellas at such a store. Anyway, I got drenched to the bone "running" 50 yards to the truck. Wet the entire way home and condensation constantly forming on the windshield. What a trip...

That's another lesson I quickly learned the first time my alarm went off at 2 something in the morning. My primary go to was my Remington 870, kept it by my bed with 00 buck ready to go just in case [kids left the nest]. I grabbed it and quickly found out it was too cumbersome, awkward and too long for my house, walls and narrow hallway. Immediately went back from the hall to the bedroom and retrieved my pistol. Had I practiced such a scenario even once, I would have realized a shotgun wouldn't be my best choice. A nutter lesson of many learned. Now I'm second guessing myself, trying to decide whether to get that CCW insurance for an unlikely event? I've done a lot of research on it, and it appears USCCA is #1 closely followed by CCWSAFE?

Just an update: Yea I hear Vortex has an excellent warranty and customer service. I was impatient and didn't want to go through the hassle of boxing, mailing and waiting and waiting for the returned repair. Sealing it in Tupperware with rice and some descant did the job and dried it out in just four days, now works great again. I checked everywhere to purchase a replacement [Vortex Venom, not Viper] to use while waiting for repair if I sent it in. I couldn't find one anywhere. In those four days I decided to get a Trijicon type II, 3.25 MOA, non adjustable to save a few bucks For my needs I don't need the extra bells and whistles. Made the 2 hour drive to Bass Pro in Nashville [which turned out to be much longer] and picked one up. Seems everything that is higher price is still available on the shelves, including the Walther Q5 SF I recently purchased. Picked a terrible day to go, torrential rain there and back, I-24 closed westbound and traffic bumper to bumper for miles at a standstill for who knows how long. Now I have a backup to use in USPSA when I shoot carry optics if I have a problem. Now if I could just find that dot consistently each time I point???

Yea I learned a few things myself, that tiny little alarm is so loud I had to scrape myself off the ceiling when it went off. With that thing blaring I couldn't hear anything and had trouble concentrating. I had to go from my bedroom to the kitchen to manually silence it. I really need to get my system upgraded to current technology but, I hate entering into another binding contract. I have the same system for 10 years now. Every two years I call to cancel my service and they ask what they can do to keep me as a customer. They make a service call and change my batteries and check the system out for free. One of the changes / improvements I made, was to hang a pair of electronic hearing protection by my bed. If nothing else, to deaden the painful sound that little box on the wall makes.

Statistically speaking, it should be a rare thing when a person needs to grab a firearm for personal defense. The odds should even be reduced if one maintains some situational awareness and doesn't go to stupid places, associate with stupid people or go somewhere unnecessarily at stupid times. I've heard the old adage said many times, "a handgun should be comforting, not comfortable". A victim of a crime or attack is usually unaware, it's not expected, at their most vulnerable, not prepared and has no though about a plan or effective response. I'd be interested in hearing when you were thankful you were carrying or had quick access to a firearm? With the accumulation of all my birthday candles, came torn muscles, arthritis, fatigue slowness, etc. In other words, I'm no longer young, strong and fit; I'm incapable of physically fighting to defend myself and family anymore. I have to depend on what Sam Colt stated, or in modern terminology, a force multiplier. In the last decade I've had two experiences when I was grateful I had a firearm really close by. The first was when my bugler alarm went off in the middle of the night and the indoor siren blasting away. The control pad was at the opposite end of the bedroom in the kitchen to silence it. Couldn't hear the phone ringing to answer ADT'S call to respond to them. It took the county Sheriff's Department :45 minutes to find my house, there were only two of them on duty and were at the other end of the county. That one turned out to be a false alarm. Something [mouse, bug, shift] tripped the motion sensor in the basement. The second instance was the real deal. The wife and I had just gone to bed and were not even drowsy yet, and started to hear loud metallic banging and tapping from somewhere that seemed in the house? One of those sounds that can't be associated with something mechanical such as an appliance acting up. With pistol in hand, what to do, call 9-1-1 or not, what if it's something stupid and I wasted their time and look stupid. After I carefully check and clear the inside of my home for what that mechanical rapping is, do I want to go outside and see if it's the air conditioner? What if it's what I suspect it is, someone trying to break into the house? Perhaps I'm like many men with testosterone and doesn't want to appear weak and scared in front of their wife. The noises and banging had stopped when I got out of bed. With Adrenalin along with some fear and anger building, I wanted to go outside and confront whom may still be there; or ease my mind if it was something else. Then common sense, reasoning and the potential of avoidable legal and moral issues kicked in. No Dennis, the potential dangers, uncertainties and following legal matters are not worth 'going hunting'. It was a long rest of the night until dawn, when I could see well enough outside from inside my home to go out and see if I could find anything. Long story short; sure enough, someone(s) tried prying my basement dead bolt / locked door handle open and damaged the door and door frame. I didn't even bother to report it because it's just that, a report, and I didn't want to waste anymore of my time much less the time of the police. In retrospect, I believe my decision not to try and confront and catch what at the time I believed to be home invader(s) was a good one. I don't want to think about "what if's", like the potential legal and civil charges, hiring an attorney, sleepless nights that could have been avoided, or even physically losing a confrontation that I initiated by going 'hunting'. I've since beefed up my home security to make it much more difficult to gain entry. What's your story?

Up North were I use to live, a number of times I went to an indoor range that had a video projector shoot at a screen. They had multiple scenarios and scored your performance hitting bad guys and no shoots. It was a little expensive for a one half hour shoot, but I had a blast [pun intended], especially in the winter and bad weather. Not many years ago I researched if there was anywhere around here that had the video shoots. I found one somewhere around Nashville, Franklin that had one, but I forgot where? I've spent a lot of time trying to find it again searching with no luck. Do the still have any of them around NW Tennessee or the Nashville area? Thanks!

Over the last decade we've all experienced and witnessed events and periods of ammunition shortages. The two year shortages during the Obama reign taught me a lesson and I had to restrict my match and practice activities to continue on. It was suggested to me by several people, I need to start reloading. Sounds good on the surface until you ask where they're getting their powder and primers from. The point is; if there's an ammo shortage for whatever reason, reloading supplies closely follow. The way I see it; with the political and social climate these days along with civil unrest, unforeseen events, production, circumstances and socialist political agendas, one of these days the 'perfect storm' will arrive. Think that will never happen? I never thought in my lifetime I'd see a small minority of radicals dictate the course and laws of the country, and be treated with 'kid gloves' and get their way and support by the liberal news media and Congress. Cities and states opting to disband and de-fund their only source of protection between civilization and anarchy. I won't mention tearing down statues or renaming military bases and much other nonsense; much less the continued and intensifying 2nd Amendment attacks. How much of the population of Canada, Australia, Mexico, etc. can sit down at their keyboards and order bulk pistol and AR ammunition whenever they wish? Why can't they and how did it get that way? We are in a war for our national identity and survival, government tyranny, radical civil rebellion and the freedoms hard earned by millions of patriots [and families] sweat, blood and tears. We are squandering it away piece by piece and losing the battle one step at a time. How many more times will we be afforded the opportunity to stock up on "things" at reasonable prices and availability??? I suggest next Novembers elections will determine the major concerns we share. We're no longer Unified States of America, much less the 'United States of America'. We're a house divided and the republicans, conservative's and patriots are always playing defense and never going on the offense. As a nation, we're sheep being willingly lead to the slaughter. We vote with our feet, and they're trying to dismember even our feet at the polls with their antics such as; ridding us of the electoral college, voter fraud, illegal alien voting, eliminating in person one day voting and so much more. Shew wee, what a long rant... It's OK, I just swallowed a handful of chill pills.

This is just a personal opinion and I'm not disparaging the Big Dots. I tried them on one of my handguns when that 'fad' was at its peak. The lollipop system goes against my 60 year shooting experience of regular sights. I'm growing to dislike the accumulation of all these birthday candles and have to wear bi-focal's to see halfway decent. Personally, I shot the big dots O.K. for self defense distances of 10 yards or less. Having to cant my neck back to get a good focus on the the front sight wearing bi-focal's, really made the target I was aiming for blur too much. I shot an IDPA match with them and had a difficult time hitting the farther targets accurately. With these old eyes I recently purchased my first red dot sight for a handgun, to mainly shoot USPSA and Steel Challenge matches. Wow, I wish I had tried one earlier! So much easier and faster to see for me personally. I don't plan on using a red dot for any of my carry guns for a number of personal opinions and preferences. The way I look at it, if I can't accurately hit my target at self defense distances of 15 yards and generally much less, I don't need to be carrying a lethal weapon.