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runco

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Posts posted by runco

  1. I have several gun diversions books scattered through out the house which are lockable, and to my knowledge wife nor kid has ever asked me about those books in 20 years.  I also have a couple of those gun vault devices that require a code attached to various night stands, I just have to remember to check the batteries when I do the smoke alarms batteries.  I also have one shotgun stored horizontally in my closet stored up around the ceiling above the door which is my go to gun in a hurry, one would have to stand in the closet, turn around and look up.  It is the only gun in the house that someone could access, but will need a step stool, I am tall enough to reach for it.  I do keep the chamber empty for a just in case a kid did reach for it, its a pump and not easily racked from a kid perspective, but anything is possible. 

    • Like 1
  2. Pre December 2012, in my mid 40s, I too use to look through the prism of cost and ROI, then Sandy Hook happened and the ammo dried up really really quick.  Not knowing the future, and Obama was in the office, I immediately made investments to reload all my calibers, basically lifetime reloading supplies.  Outside of 22LR, I have not purchased any new ammo since and don't plan too.  Fast forward a decade later, best choice I have made in regards to ammo.  Now reflecting, if I consider only my variable cost (bullets, powder, primers), I am competitive to the market (2012 economics on my variables).  However, if I consider my total investment, i.e. equipment, dies, and man power + the variables at 2023 economics, no I am not competitive.  But there are other considerations like others have mentioned about quality, consistency, custom, personal pleasure, etc.  BTW, I still single die load for hours and hours.  Maybe someday a Dillon is in my future.

    • Thanks 1
  3. 3 hours ago, monkeylizard said:

    With respect, you don't know what you're talking about. That elderly woman was severely injured, spent 8 days in the hospital, needed skin grafts, and never once asked for a dime more than she was owed for medicals and lost income for her daughter providing care. McD's offered $800. It was discovered McD's was intentionally keeping the coffee dangerously hot (180-190F) because their studies showed most customers drank it after they got to their office/wherever and they wanted it to still be hot then. The woman initially only wanted $20K to cover her hospital bills. She and her lawyer tried multiple times to get them to settle at reasonable amounts. They refused.

    The jury awarded her $160K in compensatory damages for her medicals, loss of quality of life, and her daughter's income who had been providing care. The jury then stacked $2.7M on as punitive damages. Her daughter said much of the money went to pay for medical bills and a full time live-in nurse until her death 10 years later and that she had very poor quality of life from both the injuries and the toll of the trial.

    I wouldn't recommend that as a get rich tactic.

    I respectfully disagree, and I am sorry for the pain and suffering that person endured, but that was caused by her.  I can only speak for myself, I do have enough sense to NOT:

    -Have hot coffee in my crotch area in the car or where ever I might spill it.

    -Have my hand or fingers in front of my pistol when firing, and expect the manufacturer and range to pay for the medical.

    -Return my handgun to my IWB holster with my finger on the trigger and expect it not go go off.

    -Step in front of a moving train and expect them to stop.

    -Drive up to Chick-fil-Lay on Sunday expecting service

    -Expect to ride a roller coaster at Dollywood knowing the belt/retaining device will not go across my big belly

    -Apply as a waiter at Hooters

    -Expect equal playing time for my kids on a basketball squad when they can't make a goal

    -Urinate on a electric fence and expect the land owner to place signs warning me.

    -Buy into the political statement that is gaining traction everywhere that "gun" violence is a thing

    And on-and-on.

     

    As for me, and me alone, I will keep growing my common sense and not expect others to pay for my incompetence.  

     

     

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    • Thanks 1
  4. 3 hours ago, monkeylizard said:

    With respect, you don't know what you're talking about. That elderly woman was severely injured, spent 8 days in the hospital, needed skin grafts, and never once asked for a dime more than she was owed for medicals and lost income for her daughter providing care. McD's offered $800. It was discovered McD's was intentionally keeping the coffee dangerously hot (180-190F) because their studies showed most customers drank it after they got to their office/wherever and they wanted it to still be hot then. The woman initially only wanted $20K to cover her hospital bills. She and her lawyer tried multiple times to get them to settle at reasonable amounts. They refused.

    The jury awarded her $160K in compensatory damages for her medicals, loss of quality of life, and her daughter's income who had been providing care. The jury then stacked $2.7M on as punitive damages. Her daughter said much of the money went to pay for medical bills and a full time live-in nurse until her death 10 years later and that she had very poor quality of life from both the injuries and the toll of the trial.

    I wouldn't recommend that as a get rich tactic.

    I respectfully disagree, and I am sorry for the pain and suffering that person endured, but that was caused by her.  I can only speak for myself, I do have enough sense to NOT:

    -Have hot coffee in my crotch area in the car or where ever I might spill it.

    -Have my hand or fingers in front of my pistol when firing, and expect the manufacturer and range to pay for the medical.

    -Return my handgun to my IWB holster with my finger on the trigger and expect it not go go off.

    -Step in front of a moving train and expect them to stop.

    -Drive up to Chick-fil-Lay on Sunday expecting service

    -Expect to ride a roller coaster at Dollywood knowing the belt/retaining device will not go across my big belly

    -Apply as a waiter at Hooters

    -Expect equal playing time for my kids on a basketball squad when they can't make a goal

    -Urinate on a electric fence and expect the land owner to place signs warning me.

    -Buy into the political statement that is gaining traction everywhere that "gun" violence is a thing

    And on-and-on.

     

    As for me, and me alone, I will keep growing my common sense and not expect others to pay for my incompetence.  

     

     

    -

    • Thanks 3
  5. I too have the NRA Lockton policy and a Cannon safe bolted to the floor.  Might have to inquire about the rates of Lockton compared to collectinsure suggestion.  No complaints with Lockton, just a $$$ comparison.

    Backstory how I ended up with Lockton, I live in a small town, and when I went to State Farm to increase my coverage with a rider, I had to give the local office a written inventory of my small collection with my suggested values.  When I presented the rather long list to the clerk in the local State Farm office, she rolled her eyes, and said what an arsenal, and actually stated to me a paying customer why should I need so many guns, and she had never seen such a list of guns....that seriously bothered me, and I started looking immediately elsewhere for insurance.  I wonder how many people she told.  I know one of the best kept secrets on gun security is never telling anyone that you have guns, let alone a collection and not fitting the profile of gun enthusiasts, which I don't.  

    The NRA Lockton was 100% through the internet and only asks how much coverage I want, and it asks if I have any one firearm $2500+.  Otherwise very private, discreet and actually was about 50% of the State Farm rate.  I have been with Lockton for 10+ years and State Farm for 30+ years.

  6. Well I use to be like this a number of years ago.  To avoid this sickness, I came up with a top 10 list, and if I came across something I liked but it was not on the top 10 list (unless a real real bargain) I would just turn my heals.  This is not 100% fool proof, but it does work.  FYI, I have been known to come home and immediately adjust my top 10.  😉

    My top 10 list is made up of my own home grown back woods algorythm, basically 20 questions.  Otherwise I am like unbridled horse in a candy store!

  7. I grew up listening on the radio in the late 70s, and then watching on TV in the 80s and 90s, those were some of the best races back then.  My first real frown on NASCAR came with the restrictor plates, then the speed limit on pit row, but I admit when Earnhardt got killed, NASCAR lost its luster to me.  I have tried to stay tuned in, but its hard.  So many changes, it just does not appeal to me anymore.  I still do watch the big races.    I am probably not the targeted audience today, but I was in the 80s and 90s.  I even tried to stay loyal to the major sponsors back then, but really do not pay attention anymore.  

    BTW, I was never a Bobby Allison fan, but it was good to see him and the other  Alabama boys start the race Sunday even though Bobby had his walker.  Time sure does devour everything.......

    • Like 2
  8. 2 hours ago, gregintenn said:

    You guys who live in East Tennessee probably already know, but the Countryside restaurant in Vonore is both excellent and modestly priced.

    I live within 5 minutes of this place, its good, but not in my top 5 in this area.  The Lampost, Cielito Lindo, Berts, The Patio, Donnas,  The Beach in Tellico Plains, and Greenback Corner Market are some of my favorites.

    • Like 3
  9. If your plan is that you are staying in Pigeon Forge, I would recommend traveling Dollywood Ln that runs into Upper Middle Creek Road (by the Golf course), stay on Upper Middle Creek road until the end, turn right onto Birds Creek road, stay on Birds Creek road it will eventually bring you to a 3 way stop, stay left/straight on Buckhorn road which brings you to 321 East of Gatlinburg, turn left on 321 follow signs to Interstate 40.  This route should avoid all traffic, even in the Summer, and from Pigeon Forge you are < 1 hour drive.  The roads are all paved, and well kept.

    Sounds like a lot, but its not.  Spent my first 32 years living in Sevierville.  Both my mother and father were originally from there.  Still have lots of family there.  When I camp at Greenbrier Island in Pittman Center (east of Gatlinburg), I take 40 to exit 440.  It takes you to 321 and to Gatlinburg, never traffic and its a 2 lane highway on the busiest of holidays.  321 dumps you out in downtown Gatlinburg.  I think from 40 to Gatlinburg is 25 minutes, just watch your speed, Pittman Center is a very small town but has ticket happy police.  

    • Like 1
  10. Gun values are in general what the market will bare at a particular point in time and a honest true evaluation of the condition of the gun(s).  I agree with with what people have already said use Gunbroker, books, and etc.  However, you must consider this:  Gun values and what you can get are two different view points that in my experience novice people just do not think through. 

    Now as far as what you can get for your gun(s) will depend upon your patience, targeted market, your evaluation, and medium of advertising in my judgement.   Also, as a seller complying with law is a given, and make sure your friend follows, and is aware of prohibited buyers.  There are some resources on this site to read up on.

     

     

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  11. Always an elevated risk when dealing with the general public, selling guns, selling cars, etc.  Transaction location is important, and never never ever do the deed at your own place.  I wonder how the initial connection was made and assuming not a throw away phone, just how smart the thieves were.  I wonder if there were really two guns, or just maybe one gun, and the seller thought he tag on an extra gun for his troubles in case they were caught.  You got to be smart in today's times.

  12. I guess my wife was ahead of this credit card coding, hence why I haven't used credit cards to fuel my passion in decades.   She watches those statements with a microscope.  If I were to guess, a bunch of wives got together and made this new policy.....jokes aside, this is a dangerous slope, imagine if this is successful, what about other politics, and if you do not align no food purchases?  Hmmm where I have I read about that before........

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  13. I keep a log in Excel of my inventory, probably too much detail for the average Joe, I do address who, what, when, where, and why for each acquired item.  Within my detail, I do have a column named keeper score, where a 1 is a dog and 10 will probably be buried with me in my dead hands (a joke).  Anyway I use to have a strict rule, never ever get rid of a gun because of the same reasons most people tell of the regret.  I started that practice 30+ years ago, and I do try to acquire at least 1 per year for some sad reason to fill a missing niche, so I probably have a respectful collection.  Anyway, when my father passed away 5 years ago, and he split his mild collection between my brother and me, I had to make a hard decision, and decided any gun with a score of 3 or lower had to go, so they did.  The problem I used the funds to buy new keeper score guns of 8, 9, and 10s.  The good thing it was not a 1:1 ratio, but more of a 5:1, so I turned several $200+ guns into 1 big purchased gun.  I do have a rule, all gun money stays in the same bucket of money, I do not use family money for my hobby, nor do I use my hobby money for family items (not yet). 

    I do have to reassess my logic in the next 10 years, if my sons do not find interest in my collection, I would rather sell off at near market value versus my wife or sons selling them off for mere pennies on the dollars, and that would cause me to roll over multiple times in my grave.  There is something about grown men will take a bath on trading or selling a used car/truck, but the same grown men will not tolerate any loss on a gun whatsoever, go figure!  

    • Like 1
  14. I spent my first 32 years in Sevierville, worked in Pigeon Forge in the mid to late 80s, graduated HS from there, and thought it was the best place to live, but ignorance to tourons was bliss.  Fast forward, I had to leave the area for good paying work, not a lot of good paying jobs, tons of jobs though, but nothing to raise a family on and have disposable income left over, that decision was ~25 years ago.   I would not live there today or retire there!  I do still feel like Sevier county is my home though due to my connections and up bringing.  My wife is not originally from there, but still loves the Dollywood thing, she still goes 5-7 times a year, and she does drag me to DW a couple of times per year.  We still have ways to navigate the backroads to avoid the traffic.   

    PSA:  In the summer months, go to the attractions on Sunday afternoons and evenings, that is when the tourons are transitioning in/out.  DW is virtually vacant on Sunday after 3pm, and the Aquarium is like a ghost town after 6pm on Sunday evenings as well, they close at 10pm.  Learn to use the trolleys, that is the best way to get around.  There is no good time to go the restaurants, but I highly recommend Carver's restaurant in Cosby, its very much like the Apple Barn but for a lot less money, almost same menu (I know of the former chef connection).   Its about 25 min from Gatlinburg on 321.

    Since that area was originally my home, I have lots of family there from both sides, so I do have to visit the area occasionally.  I still like to go RV camping at the Greenbrier Island campground once per year between Gatlinburg and Cosby, but I pull my 5th wheel camper through Cosby off of 40, never no traffic.  If you must visit Gatlinburg, and you do not want go through the Sevierville 407 traffic and Pigeon Forge, I do recommend the Wilton Springs exit on 40, I think its exit 440, that is about 30 min from Gatlinburg, and no traffic.  The only traffic you will encounter is when 321 and 441 meet up in downtown Gatlinburg.    

    If you truly want to see the Smokies, follow my Cosby suggestion or try the North Carolina side, Cherokee or Fontana.  Otherwise blend end with the tourons and have patience.  

    • Like 4
  15. You can call me a kook, but I watch Pluto all the time, mostly Gunsmoke on the Gunsmoke channel.  I do have Hulu, Prime, Netflix, Disney, ESPN+, etc., but find my TV 90%+ of the time on the free Pluto watching old shows. 

    Another idea, last year my wife and I watched through Prime All in the Family (Archie Bunker) every episode, about 2 shows per night, and it took 3-4 months to watch them all.  I haven't laughed that hard about TV in a long long time.  I remember watching as a young person, but now with an old adult mind, it was great to just laugh about certain situations.  My wife had never watched, and really enjoyed it.  And yes we know it was intended as a parody, but we still laughed and laughed, and I can relate but not always agree to what Archie said.  

    I really do not care about what is on ABC, NBC, CBS and Fox, I probably couldn't name a show that is on.  I don't get caught up with the talking heads on the news outlets either.  I only watch sports and the old shows from the 60s, 70s, and 80s. 

    Like I said you can call me kooky!

    • Like 2
  16. OP you are not alone, I could have written the same post.  I too learned at an early age maybe in my early 20s the stories people would say about missing a certain gun that was traded away or had to sell due to funding.  So that become a wake up call, and I too do not part with guns that I have acquired and that was over 30 years ago.  The exception was the large collection my dad gave me when he started down hill, these are not the ones that he gave me during my youth, but his own acquired collection. I tried to distance myself to warming up to his collection, to avoid any personification, so I was able to part from some of the collection after I cherry picked keeper items for myself.  I never pocketed any of funding, but turned around used the funds to acquire bucket list guns for my self, so the legacy continues. 

    Yes each gun I have has a story, to some a cherished story, to others a silly story, but nonetheless each has a reason, the quest, and then the execution.  I lost the appeal to flip to make a buck 30+ years ago, so my little collection is truly a journey of wants.  I don't have a lot a hobbies, but the ones that I do, I do cherish.  

     

    • Like 1
  17. I am a little gun nerdy, each gun I own (quite a few) have a  acquisition story, meaning why did I acquire the piece in the first place, none of the acquisitions were by happenstance, each had a plan to be acquired.  I have logged all of the history in my tracking spreadsheet, but I also have a "keeper" scale from 1 to 10 assigned to each gun.  1 is for the dogs and the 10s are never part until I am gone.  Anyway, when I get to the point of thinning the herd, I am going to sell off using the "keeper" scale starting with the lowest rank to the highest rank.  Only you can decide through your own methodology (personal/acquired/etc.) how you would rank each gun.

    • Like 1
  18. I usually do not wade in on matters like this, its just a senseless crime.  However, what jerks my chain, the number of what ifs if this POS was behind bars on his previous incursions of crime.  The article below explains two recent priors:  Such as a recent aggravated robbery, felony evading, and a separate incident in Oct for shooting another individual.   Do you think the justice system has any remorse for what happened to this RK employee for failing to keep this POS behind bars?

    https://www.wbir.com/article/news/crime/kcso-shooting-occurs-behind-rural-king-in-halls-suspect-at-large/51-b221c0ef-c87f-41ad-ae26-47f8cf7df6a0

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  19. My 2 cents guess considering the wood color, forearm shape, distinguished shell loader color, receiver shape, add on butt plate pad, and added barrel compensator or external adjustable choke, a vintage late 1950s Remington Sportsman 58 semi auto in 16 gauge.  If accurate, GB has a couple in the $700 - $900 range, but like already said, not worth a pack a weenies to me and still deduct for the especially ugly old school barrel compensator.

  20. Mine was a Winchester 37a 410 single shot purchased from the local Co-op in Sevierville back in the mid 70s.  Still have it, and my oldest son killed his first squirrel with it as well.  As a side note, after my dad passed several years ago, digging through old papers, found the owners manual to the same shotgun....lots of memories even a tear writing this post response.  

    • Like 3
  21. Expensive electric bills is one of my obsessive/centric things, and I stay on top of it the best I can, but in the summer I do not care to run the A/C to keep the house comfortable 76 in the daytime, 70 at night (program), but in the winter I do have wood heat available and tons of cut firewood.  We have a 2700 ft house, family of 6 (2 adults, 3 teenagers) and my electric bill in July is ~$300 and in Jan ~$140, with October and March the cheapest months with no heat or air running, ~$125.  My goal is to have a <$100 electric bill, but I do not think that will occur until my kids move out.  No gas here.

    Many years ago, we had a deep freezer, I figured out the cost to run it and my calculation was around $30-$40 a month, so I told the wife unless she is saving $40 in bulk buy for the freezer, and that was to break even that freezer had to go (No Aunt Bee stories here!), so we got rid of it, saved ~$500 per year.  I also have the current refrigerator at the energy efficiency level, that is a another elec. drain, and there is the hot water heater too, we are a family of 6, I think we keep the 80 gallon set at 130 degrees.  I did study buying a heat pump water heater, and I do think the next time I have to replace the water heater, I will go that route, but it does require some open space to be efficient, and the current location will be a challenge.  We do have all led lights, but every morning when the family goes to school, I still have to turn off 10+ lights everyday.  Our Washer/Drier runs 24/7 (or it feels like it), so we focus on the energy savings on those units as well.  Those ceiling fans is another drain, I try to turn those off as well when no one is here, only at night over my bed is the one that is running any signficant time.

    Here where we live, we have a well, so no monthly water/sewer, but has my luck would go, we had to replace the water well pump a few years back ~$1500.  My parents never had a problem with theirs, and it was close to 50 years old.  I have not calculated the daily cost of water (pump running), but I do think our newer pump was more efficient, than the previous one, but I am not 100% sure, I did see about a $20 drop, but that may be many other variables as well.  

    BTW, I would stroke out on a $400+ electric bill.  Not in my future unless inflation goes Venezuela style.

  22. I have pondered this subject many times, and have decided I am not going to worry about.  Each of mine have a story, some stories are short, but some are long stories.  Some came by happenstance, some by long collecting journeys, some by stupidity, some by luck, and some by inheritance.  I have the first 410 my dad got me for Christmas some 50 years ago, its wiped out a many squirrel.  Even my oldest son bagged his first squirrel with that same 410.  I have some of my father's favorite rifles, his dad's double barrel from the early 1900s, my first hand gun, some centric collections, some odd ones, and some because I watched some stupid movie or western.  Maybe the kid in me still enjoys them, Im too old to buy matchbox or hotwheels anymore, but guns are something else, maybe its my connection to my dad.  I just cannot think of reason to get rid of any of them.  I do have nightmares after my passing that my wife will sell each of them for pennies on the dollars, and think good riddance to those things in that sat in the safe all those years.  She still thinks that I only need one, I told her I have enough for me and our sons!  Wow will she be shocked or wonder who she married.  

    • Like 1
    • Haha 1

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