Jamie Jackson

I went to the range this morning and ran 150 rounds through my G17 (new sights), about 50 rounds through my 9mm Shield (pocket carry) and about 150-160 rounds through my 9mm Sccy. Dave is right on the weight difference of course. The Sccy weighs in at 15 oz, my 9mm Shield around 20 oz. Those are unloaded weights. The Sccy has a double stack 10 round magazine and therefore a significantly thicker grip.The Sccy's grip is more akin to a Glock 26 vs the thinness of the Shield. I find the transition from the Shield's trigger (mine is smooth and easy with a positive reset right out of the box) to the Sccy's is like the difference between shooting a striker fired semiauto and revolver. I even use the same rolling trigger technique I would use on my J Frame Smith. You can even “stage” the Sccy trigger like you can a DAO revolver. I don’t know the dimensions because I haven’t measured it…but the Sccy has a short enough grip that I pinched the crap out of my right palm a couple of times doing mags changes while running a few drills. It’s no big deal as I’ve done similar with my Shield a time or two. The Sccy, (possibly?) seems to be settling in or breaking in somewhat. I’ve only put about 400 rounds through it so far…but the feeding of SD ammo seems to be markedly improving. I ran one 10 mags of Pow’R Ball through it (already knew that it feed reliably) but I also ran a mag of each of the following with no issues: Black Hills 124 gr +P Gold Dot Winchester Ranger 147 gr +P HP Remington 147 gr Golden Saber HP Winchester (White Box) 147 gr HP Speer Gold Dot 124 gr HP standard velocity ( I have some 147 gr HST coming today I plan to try on my next range session) The rest of the rounds were handloaded PC 130 & 155 gr RN I normally practice with. If you replicate this please have extra Bandaids with you… It’s a very light pistol with a few sharp edges that are noticeable when running the +P loads… As a Rule of Thumb, I don’t carry any handgun for defensive purposes until I have between 750-1000 through them to “prove” their reliability to me. I don’t plan to forego my Shield nor my Glocks… but I am pleasantly surprised with my $200.00 investment thus far.

I wish them the best and I'm glad to hear they are relocating as well. I actually picked up a SCCY from a friend last year. It's really a pretty solid little gun for a "budget" end of the spectrum, subjectively it's very shootable. The sights are solid on mine and offer a good sight picture. The trigger is, of course, markedly different from the Glocks I've been shooting for years (decades)...much akin to a revolver trigger, long full release to reset, but smooth and not heavy at all. Best of all the SCCY has a decent handfilling ergonomic grip. Worst of all mine is a picky eater! It runs fmj fine, loves 147 gr 9mm, but has had FTF with several defensive carry loads. I'm got it loaded with Pow'R Ball by Corbon...it likes that load. I wouldn't particularly want one for an EDC...but at it's price point it's not bad.

Thanks for the pics and Nice work...both the holster and speed strip carrier. I'm a "visual learner", so that helps. I hope you'll keep us posted on the evolution and development.

Would you be so kind as to post a pic of the speed strip pouch once you make it? My 640 is a second gun and carried non-dominate side the majority of the time (occasionally I carry it as a primary in the appendix position), so I carry my speed strip in the "watch pocket" of my jeans. But I've considered a dedicated belt mounted strip pouch. btw...How do you carry your moon clips? Any issues with fragility of the moon clips? I obviously don't own a moon clip fed revolver but one is on my wish list.

Very nice pair you got there! and "gooder" is a fine word, and very appropriate! I do love me some wheelguns! I happen to have a 686 I picked up in 1986 and a 640 (my daily pocket pistol) I've carried since 1992. They are both great shooting guns and should allow you to handle most any situation you'd run across. I have Barami Hip grips with a Tyler T-piece on my 640. This setup gives me variable carry options. How do you carry reloads? Speed strips? Speed loaders? Belt slide? Combination?

I recently picked a set of the Ameriglo Hackathorn sights for my Glock 26, replacing the XS Big Dot sights I had on it. I'm impressed by them. Easy to install of course. Very fast for my aging eyes to pick up, and they have a flat ledge on the front of the rear sight that aids in one hand malfunction clearance drills. The narrow front post with the bright orange dot really draws my eye to it, yet there is plenty of room in the rear notch for precise shooting. The orange dot has a tritium insert as well. I'm considering purchasing a pair for my S&W Shield. My only concern is that by looking at Ameriglo's website, the rear sight for the Shield seems to lack the serrations. That's not a deal breaker or anything, but I do like the serrations. Anyone else running these? http://www.brownells.com/handgun-parts/sights/sight-sets/hackathorn-night-sight-sets-for-glock--prod70540.aspx http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/10/18/review-ameriglo-hackathorn-glock-night-sights/

I enjoyed this series as well. It's a bonus that it has a local setting. Good recommendation Billybob.

And for this they taught us to "Duck & Cover"? Good Grief!

Thank you Mark. They certainly should save some money. I have some hand warmers and o2 absorbers, so I'll give both a try the next time I put up some jars of dehydrated food. I'll make sure to post back with my observations. A penny saved and all that.

As I mentioned earlier, I've never tried the handwarmers in lieu of dedicated o2 absorbers. How well have they worked for you Mark? I'm definitely open to options...

I'm happy to share any first hand experiences JAB. I encourage everyone to be as food self sufficient as possible. I know our food storage and preps have helped us through more than one tough stretch of life. I do have some items stored in one gallon Mylar bags and I've toyed with making "mountain House"-like meals. Of course being a mixture of home dehydrated and store bought dehydrated foods. Freeze dried foods will have a much longer shelf life done this way, and will generally require less water to rehydrate and eat. It's hard to beat the quality, taste, and ease of preparation of the single or family serving Mountain bags... But if you want to make short-term homemade "meals", say for a weekend camping trip, that's certainly a doable thing. I'll attach a link or two on it. But storing any type of quality protein (meat) for any length of time, is best done, imho, using freeze dried products...in this context. An option is to purchase a #10 can and repackage it. This site has some good info regarding preparing "backpacking" meals: http://www.backpackingchef.com/ http://www.backpackingchef.com/backpacking-recipes.html The majority of the one gallon bags I have stored include a variety of foods ... dehydrated already cooked beans, rice, and even coffee. I keep these in a relatively large plastic tote for carrying along in a quick leaving home scenario. But I also keep some Mountain House and Wise packets in the tote that I've purchased in online sales. If/when you try some of the "meals" linked, please give us some feedback. Gotta coffee up and get to work.

There isn't any particular brand I use Jab. I have purchased from Sorbent Systems and Ready Made Resources in the past. But I haven't purchased any in about 4-5 years. My last purchase was for several hundred of the 500 cc sized. I opened them and re-vac sealed them into 100 count bags. I had my vac seal bags cut and ready to go before opening and repackaging...so they only have exposure to the air for about 10 minutes...this apparently didn't effect their efficacy in any way. For use in my jars, generally foods I've dehydrated in my Excalibur unit...I fill my jars, have lids & rings at the ready...open the o2 absorbers, remove and toss the appropriate number (for the jar size) into the jars, place their lids on and re-vac seal the bag of absorbers. I've repeated this process several times and always get a solid and distinctive "plink" when the lids seal. As regards Mylar. I purchase purpose made for food storage Mylar bags for use in lining food grade plastic buckets. I place the bags into the buckets first, fill them with the desired food items...rice, beans. pasta, whole red winter wheat, instant mashed potatoes in vac sealed bags, seasonings, etc...sometimes a combination of items so that one 5 gallon bucket with Mylar bag contains a weeks supply of meal preparations for 2 people. Other buckets single type food items. These are my "Long Term" buckets and I'll toss in 5-6 500cc absorbers, press out all of the air I can and I use an aluminum level and a dedicated electric iron to seal the Mylar bags. I generally wait several hours to insure the vac seal takes, then place the bucket lids back on. The oxygen depleted vac sealed bags are what preserves the food...the buckets reduce the likelihood of bag puncture, rodent nibbling, and made storage and movement easier. There's lots of YT videos on the method. I'm working a long stretch just now, but I'll either add links or start a thread on this my next days off. I've read of hand warmers being recommended before, but I have never tried them. I'm confident with my current system and components. I'll also address my experiences with one gallon sized bags and single meals when I have more time...Sorry, gotta go make money to pay the bills.

It's great info Sidecarist. I wouldn't have thought of preheating or pre-softening lids myself..so you've saved me some frustration I'm certain. LOL. I've never had an "original thought" in my life I'm sure. I read about the o2 absorbers on Frugal's Forum many years ago.

Just chiming back in to say thanks to Sidecarist. That's interesting info about your experience with the jar lids. As I mentioned above, I'm currently using o2 absorbers and had excellent results with new lids. But as we eventually transition to a Food Saver brand unit I'll definitely be using a jar attachment, so I'm filing away this tip for later on. Much obliged.

I 100% agree with CHL (Randy) and Omega that having anatomical knowledge...the knowing why we are shooting at what we are shooting at is a necessity. The rapid incapacitation areas of the human body are pretty darn small. That's good and bad. Good for us if we're the target of incoming rounds... Having a working knowledge of human anatomy and realistic expectations of ballistic injury to those targeted areas is invaluable imho. In training and practice those targeted areas Randy mentioned, and Omega's excellent targets represent are great. I know I sound like a broken record, but I also find shooting Dot drills (OPS or Tactical response on search) and the Dot Torture (Todd Green) are extremely beneficial. The F.A.S.T. (test) is also a good option. http://pistol-training.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/09/fast-target.pdf http://pistol-training.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/dot-torture-target.pdf

This ^^^! 100% agree as it's my practice as well. Just doing my part to make it easier for my peers.

I don't own a Food Saver brand (wish I did) but have a 12 year old Black & Decker model. I don't have a jar attachment for it. So why the heck is Prag posting this!? I still vac seal dried foods in jars by tossing in one 500 cc o2 absorber into pint jars and two 500cc o2 absorbers into quart jars, place the new lid on and screw the ring down. I get an excellent vac seal this way. I've opened a couple of jars within the past month that I initially sealed in 2011 and the vacuum was well intact and the foods in excellent condition. I keep the o2 absorbers vac sealed (I purchase a few hundred at a time), prep my jars, open the o2 absorbers and toss the appropriate number in my jars, lid 'em and reseal the o2 absorbers ... this has worked for several years now. fwiw these are the same o2 absorbers I use in my Mylar bags & buckets for food storage. I just wanted folks that are considering storing foods that there are additional options available. Of course when the B&D unit finally dies, it'll be replaced with a Food Saver brand unit...one day...

Congrats Dolo! The Good Lord works his magic and does it quite well. Sam's a great looking dog. And very fortunate.

Best wishes in regards your surgery Grunt. Heal fast. As Jocko Willink says, now you have an "opportunity to learn", and with what you said: "old Army motto", "improvise, adapt, overcome", you'll do great! Do keep us posted. We'll learn as well.

I've been guilty of the same CZ! Kinda makes you wish you could time travel doesn't it?

Well, the OP was made in 2015. Current 2017 pricing, from what I see, is in the $800.00-$850.00 range. But that was a great sale price. fwiw the Aimpoint PRO's are running around $400.00 at this time. I own one and find it to be very functional for my needs.

Jab; I do dehydrate, but have no experience dehydrating meats...but I pressure can the devil outta meats! I've pressure canned everything from smoked sausage, beef, venison, pork, turkey, chicken and even figured out how to pressure can bacon bit & pieces. I know that's not what you're asking and just wanted to mention the option. We have 2 chest freezers and of course generator backups. But we, as you mentioned, accept the unreliability of electrical appliances. I too would be interested to learn of other's experiences with dehydrating meats and the usable lifespan they expect. I'm interested in trying my hand at biltong, but honestly can't afford current beef prices to experiment with the process. South African biltong: http://www.sa-austin.com/blog/2014/04/making-traditional-south-african-biltong-1400.html

Not to side track or anything, but what bags are you folks using? I've only ever used Food Saver brand, and they work well. But I just received a 3 roll order off Amazon and they've gone up in price $6.00 since my last order in Aug. 2016.

Thank you Raoul. Much obliged.

I used this software for posting some items for the first time today....from starting to completing a sale. I like it! I'm a devout technotard and still found it extremely easy to use. Much appreciated David!