The Rabbi

He was just in today and I asked the exact same question....

On AKs, yes check ar15.com in their AK forum section. I hadnt thought of the Kel Tec. That actually isnt a bad choice at all. I am surprised lever guns havent received more support. I've got a Puma in .454Casull (capable of shooting .45LC too of course) that I think would make an excellent home defense type rifle. Very compact, reliable, excellent knock down power probably out to 150 yards, etc.

Smith Model 19: 2 1/2in blue 2 1/2 nickel 4" blue 4" nickel SIG P220 P226 P228 P239 All in 9mm exceot the 220.

In a sense I'm being serious. I really don't know what Masons do. Just something that never passed into my consciousness....

Ugh. You ever met any secular Israelis? Remind me to tell you a joke about it sometime. My grandfather was in the Scottish Rite. I still wear his ring with date of induction, 1913.

Probably. I have a customer who is a 50-60 year old Black guy. He's about 6' 4" and weighs like 280 and carries probably 2-3 guns on him. He lives in North Nashville I think. He carries one under the theory that cops will be less likely to harass him if he has it. I dont know whether that's true or not. It's a very different perspective from that side of town.

And its generally not filled with competitive a-holes. Like some other shooting sports I could mention....

You mean like Dr. Frankenstein?

What do Masons do other than control the world?

Roy, You asked a stupid question. Now you've gotten a stupid answer.

Puts me in mind of the AGI gunsmith on 1911s and his advice for changing springs etc. Leave the damn thing alone.

I figure if I carry a gun it's because I want it right to hand in case of need. Being a middle aged fat guy an ankle holster just doesnt fit that bill. I would have to stoop down to get to it. And that could take weeks. That said, for those who remember Tommy St. Charles obm, he worked in his shop for over 30 years, in a lousy neighborhood most of the time, and his own weapon was a .25acp strapped to his ankle. I thought about getting an ankle holster for my Colt 1903 just in his memory.

I shot in Manchester once. It is a nice club with nice facilities. If it werent so far away I'd go there again.

Boy what a moron. No, I'm just kidding. That's what this site is about--introducing people to all kinds of things gun related and specifically local to this state. Yes, the previous post explained it. It is also probably the cheapest shooting sport you can get involved in. Someone could go get a cheap used Taurus revolver, a couple of speed loaders, a box of 100ct Win White Box and a cheap holster and still win the match. That's a lot of the appeal for me.

I knew we'd agree on something. 1911? That's pretty new fangled, untried technology where I come from. I'm much more comfortable with something a little more tried and true:

Ammo lasts a long long time if stored properly. I have shot .45acp made in 1942 and it worked just fine. People tell me they have shot rounds made for WWI and they worked fine too. In 7.62x39 there isnt much for personal protection vs range. You can get HP rounds. I am not sure they work any better than fmj stuff. I have a couple of boxes loaded with Hornady bullets, mainly for hunting. But that's a freak. In the .223 there are lots of great self defense loads, like Hornady TAP in different grains. The more you plan on using the gun, the more you can justify spending on it. At least for me.

OK. BUt remember last time all the members complained it was too easy because they all scored zero down.

Actually all shots are weak hand only with strong hand tied behind the back. That includes for reloads as well. I mean, we try to mimic real life and you just never know when you'll need that skill....

You mean other companies make revolvers?

And ask the man who carried one in battle. I still think it will depend. If this is a rifle just to use a couple of times for familiarization and then put away until Ragnarok, the SKS makes the most sense. Cheap, easy to use, and reliable. And I wouldnt go converting it either. The N.Vietnamese did just fine, even using the rifle for sniping sometimes.

Wheelgunner: Will they have the stage where you have to leap through the burning rings and nail the two swingers before hitting the ground? Again?

True. That's why the U.S. has won almost every military engagement in the last 40 years with the 7.62NATO battle rifle. Oh, no. I guess we didn't..... .308=expensive heavy ammo with large recoil. If people like it, great. I'd take 7.62x39 or .223 any day.

Its actually now an ESR type gun. If I wanted to do that, I'd want a 4" barrel on it.

Hoo boy. It depends on what you want to spend, how you're going to use it, and what you're after. If it's something just to put away for a rainy day, I would want to spend the least possible for something that will work. That implies an SKS. Durable, cheap, uses cheap easily available ammo. Get some stripper clips and practice fast loading the gun. Something with more capacity, an AK of some variant. Something you will use for other stuff as well, an AR type. They are pretty durable, very ergonomic, and there is an amazing range of self defense ammo out there. Or more retro, a lever gun like 30/30 stoked with Hornady Leverevolution. Or just put a rifled slug barrel on the shotgun.

I'm not sure I understand "a million rounds downrange wrong." You either hit the target consistently or you don't. If you do, then you're doing it right. If you aren't, it's obvious. There are definitely people who can benefit from some kind of instruction. But once the basics have been mastered it is simply practice. And a 2 day class won't give the kind of consistent practice needed. Handgun skill is a perishable commodity: if you don't practice it often it will dissipate.