deerslayer

Glock 19 or 23 w/ an extra magazine. The spare is more for fixing a malfunction that for having extra shots on tap. Now that I own a S&W 442, I sometimes carry a BUG in the front pocket. Whether talking about BUGs or extra mags, I think the SEALs sum it up best: "Two is one and one is none."

A single stage press shouldn't be ruled out for reloading rifle rounds (depending on how many you will need). I'm about to get a Dillon 550 set up and running, with the intention of cranking out 9mm now, and hopefully .223 down the road. Everybody tells me the general rule of thumb is to go ahead and get the 650 if you ever want to run a casefeeder, but I doubt I ever will. The Dillon "no BS" warranty is just that--they are a great example of what "American made" used to mean.

Had one--a CDP II Compact w/ internal extractor. Worst $1000 spent in the history of mankind...

Good advice except for the assumption that "realistic combat" never involves more than five rounds...

3" J-frames are not that hard to find. A quick search on gunbroker revealed a few 3" Model 60s, and a couple 3" Taurus 605s. Locally, Guns and Ammo usually has one in stock. A 4" K-frame is a bit harder to conceal than a 3" J-frame.

Shoot both first if you get the chance. Hold each in your hand, close your eyes, and point at a target. Which one lines up more naturally? This is not as big an obstacle to overcome as many would have you think (whether the Glock points high or the XDM points low). Compare the triggers by dry-firing. The XDM has a slightly lighter pull, but a longer reset. The Glock has the benefit of a wider choice of accessories. Magazines are probably cheaper and more available (althought the current political landscape may change that for all guns). The only gun that rivals a Glock for the wide range of choices of holsters and sights is a 1911. I'm a huge Glock fan, but you can't go wrong with either one. Be warned, though--don't buy into all the Glock-will-shoot-your-ass BS. People shoot themselves in the ass because they pulled the trigger before their gun ever cleared their holster. A grip safety would do them no good. A little training and repetition would.

Nothing that lists a Taurus PT-92 as #4 overall should be considered a serious list...

IMO, a better option than a Glock 26 or a snubbie for a first time shooter is a S&W Model 60 with a 3" barrel. With the steel frame, longer barrel, and better sights, there is a massive difference in accuracy and recoil over a 2" J frame (especially the alloy frame ones), and it's more user-friendly than an auto. It's still small enough and light enough to carry. My wife started with one, and after practicing now and then for a couple months, she outshot all the men at her carry permit class with it.

+1 for watching for the cat. Hey bailey, you're not a lefty, are you?

+1 I had a Taurus Model 85 Ultra-Lite that basically locked up from being dirty. They cylinder would barely move. The gun only had ~200 rounds through it since the last cleaning. I would carry a dirty Glock with 1000 rounds through it before carrying a revolver w/ 200. Revolvers are not totally malfunction-proof. I am not berserk about their longer trigger pulls, either. I sometimes shortstroke DA revolvers when shooting in a hurry. Pull the trigger five times, and fire three shots. That said, I like pocket carrying my new Smith 442 in a DeSantis Nemesis holster as a BUG. My wife says that it's hers after she has the baby. We'll see.

For me, the subcompacts (aka baby Glocks) are easier to conceal than the compacts. Even though I have a mag extension on my 27, it's easier to hide. Many argue that the grip extensions negate any advantage, because they have as long a grip as the compacts. This is true, to an extent. The smaller guns are the same length along the front of the grip, but are shorter along the back. All the bobtail 1911s that have recently become more popular are more concealable for the same reasons. Also, the shorter overall length seems to poke my side a little less, especially when driving.

We have a TiVo, and I hate it. It's full of baby shows and Lifetime movies. If I did know how to operate it, it wouldn't matter because there's never enough space on it to record anything (and it only holds 200 hours at a time).

Hmmm...bring your 17 with all its changes and your paycheck; I'll bring my stock 19, and we'll see who's on the bottom...

I have competed three or four times with my G27, and did suprisingly well. That said, you will be much better off with a 19 over a 26 if you want a CCW that doubles as a competitive IDPA gun. With your size, it will be easy to conceal (especially with an IWB holster), and it is easier to shoot. I used a 19 in IDPA for a year and a half, but finally gave in and got a 34. I still shoot the 19 in matches now and then.

I do support open carry, but only for two reasons: to keep the concealed carry crowd from going to jail for printing or accidently exposing their weapon, and to maintain some type of unity with gun owners. It has nothing to do with wanting to protect someone's right to walk around in Wal-Mart with a .44 mag on their hip for everyone to see. I also support everyone's right to smoke five packs of cigarettes a day, but don't think it's prudent to do so. Please don't compare me to 44M. I'm not Here's a link to another thread relating to OCing at Wally World: http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=12834&highlight=wal-mart+open+carry

Hmmm...I live in Bartlett and have never seen anyone OCing in any of those places. I'll have to pay more attention. I suppose many see a guy OCing and assume he's a cop (or maybe they just avoid the guy wearing the gun on his hip). I have always liked to blend in and not draw attention, so I don't open carry. I don't think there is such a thing as being discreet while OCing. Just because it's legal doesn't mean it's a good idea. I've never understood why fans of open carry believe they are doing gunowners such a favor.

I have a Bushmaster Carbon 15 9mm, and it's my all-time favorite rifle. It runs like a sewing machine with FMJs and hollow points. A friend bought a 9mm upper and conversion kit from here: http://www.americanspiritarms.net/ He's been happy with it, too. It was around $600-$625 less than a year ago, IIRC. He got the flat-top version and put an EOTech on it. Here's a quick video of us screwing around with it after an IDPA match (I don't claim to be an expert with an AR, BTW): [ame] [/ame]

I've lived in Shelby County 37 years and have seen exactly two people OCing. One had a SIG in a Delta Force wannabe thigh rig--a friend and I literally laughed out loud at the guy. I think we pissed him off. Wal-Mart will supposedly ask you to conceal or leave. I haven't tested them, and don't plan to (I'm all about discretion).

So much for the permit and a cooperative attitude helping out when the cops pull you over. The "my county" crap does get old. Congrats for making it through Oakland, though.

Have you ever been there? It's well worth $20/month.

Not exactly cheap, but this is what I'll end up with sooner or later: http://www.leupold.com/tactical/products/scopes/mark-4-cqt-riflescopes/mark-4-1-3x14mm-cqt/

Concealed is much more prudent. Get a quality inside-the-waistband holster (check Comp-Tac or Blade-Tech) and maybe a smaller gun sooner or later and you will have no worries about getting spotted. Be mindful of reaching to the top shelf on your gun side, or bending at the waist (your back is better off if you squat, anyway). Most of the sheep out there are oblivous to their surroundings, and will assume that lump at your waistline is a cell phone or something, if they notice the lump at all. Don't be so self-conscious about it; find a carry holster/method/sweet spot that works, and just do your thing. One of the things I do when I'm out is looking for people I think are packing. Nervous guy with the wool-lined vest in July is a dead giveaway. Second place goes to the guy who keeps feeling his belt at 3 or 4 o'clock.

Glock 19 in a CTAC under an untucked polo type shirt.

nor will it help in convincing me that this guy isn't a troll, no matter what his buddy says.

Unless it's a typo, I'd definitely stay away from any 12 guage w/ a 2.5" chamber.