rentalguy1

I have a 3" scar on my shoulder blade that can attest to this statement.

They're referred to as "chicken plates," and were issued to special operations forces and aviators in that era. They would fit the old style body armor vests, but I'm not sure where one of those could be found today. Cheaper than Dirt offers the new style body armor vests and the actual armor to go in them, and it is perfectly legal to own them. The older ones were ok, but not as good as the newer kevlar material that is used today. We used to take the back plate out and sit on them in the aircraft. The bulletproofing under the seats in OH-58's and AH-6's were severely lacking, and every time we were shot at, it was from underneath.

"When you absolutely, positively need a cop at that very instant, he is only minutes away." "I have a word for people who are against guns and handgun carry permits; FUTURE VICTIM!" "If you had been knocked to the ground and halfway unconscious, your clothes shredded, and a 6'2" man just ready to rape you, would you rather have your cell phone in your hand to call the cops with, or someone like me, who has years of military training and a .45 caliber 1911 handgun, standing nearby that can put a instantaneous end to the situation?"

Thanks for the pics. Just curious, was there any insulation stuffed in there? I know it wouldn't make a major difference on handguns, but I'm wondering if it wouldn't absorb some shot. I may have to set up a test like this of my own soon.

I love my XD, but I love my Taurus pistols, too. And , for what it's worth, not one of them has a plastic guide rod. Never seen such, but it could be particular to that model. I had my XD40 and the wife's PT709 Slim field stripped at the same time last night, and other than the slim being much smaller (in size and caliber) there was no mechanical/material differences.

At least you know what you like

I don't work for them. I'm really not a Taurus butt-boy, either. My personal favorite manufacturer is Springfield. I just think Taurus gets a bad rap from folks who are just parroting others, and have never owned a Taurus handgun (at least not in the last 5 years). My comments on the materials used in Taurus guns comes from magazine articles and stuff that's posted on the web. I don't have 100% proof that they use lesser materials, but I have seen Taurus guns fail after the heavy usage that we were talking about in this thread. It would still be my choice.

I'll agree on that point. Taurus guns were intended for the average shooter/carrier. If you are a competition shooter, you need to fork over the dough for a high-end handgun, and then even more money for a gunsmith to make it better. It's all in the materials that they are made out of, and while Taurus is plenty capable of reliably shooting 1000 rounds (or more) per year, they do not use the top grade materials that others do.

People who dog Taurus don't have a clue what they are talking about. They either owned one years ago, or they're just parroting what they read on this and other board. They are now just as reliable as any of the major manufacturers. They USED to have problems with warranty work and customer service, but not any more. They no longer have to send the guns back to Brazil. They only go to Miami now. I just had to have warranty work done on a PT709, and the entire process took only a few weeks. I own a PT92 and a PT1911 and both are flawless. I carry the 1911 almost daily and would stake my life on it. My wife owns and carries the PT709, and now that it's fixed she feels the same about it. Heck, even Colt, Glock, and Springfield put out a lemon every now and then. It's really getting old reading all of this garbage being spewed about Taurus when they have actually no idea what they are talking about. I personally don't care for Glock. I don't like the way they feel in my hand. Therefore I don't own one, haven't shot very many, and don't research them often. I don't dog them, though. That would only serve to put more bad information out there. So, to the OP, all three of your options are good choices. If you need to save a few bucks, go for the Taurus. It will serve you just as well as the other two. You needn't worry about their customer service. My recent experience was nothing but pleasant. I would add the Springfield XD line to your options, though. They are a very nice gun.

I just realized, I've never had a Starbucks coffee, either. I like bitter coffee, though. That's why I use Eight O'Clock brand, grind it myself, and brew it strong. I just don't like chicory (sp?) coffee. Hell, I may even OC just to test the reaction. I know that's not what it's about, but I am curious as I've never done it in public. Anybody know the open carry laws in VA? Closest one to me is in Bristol, VA.

More false/misinformed, second-hand information. Taurus pistols are no longer sent to S. America for warranty work. They haven't been for years. They go to Miami, and if it takes more than three weeks to get it back, then something is going on that they have not encountered previously.

Spoken like someone who has never owned, carried or fired one. The Taurus 1911 has many of the nicer upgrades found on much more expensive makes, and performs just as well as a $2000 Kimber or Dan Wesson; FLAWLESSLY. I carry one everyday, and would/possibly will stake my life and the lives of my family on it. It is a superbly manufactured firearm, and it is in every way a equal to the bigger name manufacturers. I also own several other Taurus handguns, and the only one that has ever given a problem was the PT709 Slim, which was a brand new design for the company. Sent it back to the manufacturer, and 5 weeks later got it back with a new slide. Not a single malfunction since. This ain't your father's Taurus anymore... To the OP's question, I think this sums it up:

Ditto! Although I am enjoying my own Eight O'Clock columbian/regular blend right now... I'm not a open carry guy, so I really have no dog in this hunt. I' will remain confused why someone who OC's get's upset when someone notices their gun. It's kind of like a woman with DD's wearing a low cut tank top that is three sizes too small getting upset for all the guys looking at her funbags. Hide the darn thing and nobody will ever know the difference until it counts.

Coyotes hunting in a pack in the middle of the night is normal behavior and isn't indicative of a rabid animal. If you want to make the local health department giddy, inform them so they can decapitate the carcasses and test the brain for the disease. They don't get to do this very often and usually appreciate the opportunity. Your dog's current shot should keep him safe, in the event that these were rabid animals in the very earliest stages of the disease, but taking him to the vet to have the wounds checked and a 10 day quarantine would not be a bad idea. I am not a vet, nor do I play one on TV. I also did not stay at a holiday inn express last night. I've just been around all this good rabies stuff over the last 15 years thanks to my wife... good luck

I've got the XD40 compact (before the m came out) and I love it. I carry it a lot and it's very comfortable, even with the extended 12 round mag. I'm not big on pistol accessories, so I am used to point shooting with it. The only pistol I have that is more accurate is my 1911. I think you'll be really happy with this gun.

You can carry in the one in Seveirville. The store and restaurant are separated. You have to specifically go into the restaurant to break the law.

I answered question number one (how many), stuck it back in the envelope, and mailed that sucker. I had a census worker show up at my door in 2000 for doing the same thing. She said fill it out or I'll call the cops. I handed her my cell phone... She left and never returned. If they do the same thing this time I'm telling them they have to the count of ten to get off my property or things are going to get real ugly. If they say they will call the cops, I will again hand them my cell phone. There is a 9.8 chance out of 10 that it will be a LEO that I know, and will tell them to get the hell out of there. FWIW, most of the LEO's I know are only answering question 1, also. The constitution states the census is only for purposes of enumeration. It is SOLELY to appoint the correct number of representatives in Congress. It IS NOT to distribute anyone's "fair share" of federal funds. Maybe, just maybe, if they stopped worrying so damn much about distributing federal funds fairly, we would not have a budget deficit in the trillions of dollars, and interest on that national debt that we will never be able to pay off, and the real threat of losing our AAA bond rating....just saying...

I wasn't saying that civilian leadership over the military is a bad thing. I was saying Rumsfield sucked. He sucked the first time, too. A lighter, faster army, which was the brain-child of Rummy/Powell after the first Gulf War is partially to blame for us still being at war, in two theaters, 8 1/2 years later. You don't fight wars with less manpower and material. You fight wars with overwhelming power. You decimate the enemy, their economy, their industry, and their countryside. Then you help them build back up. We did none of that this time around. I used to us that same argument about Hussein needed to be ousted, but seriously, can you tell me how it is better there now than it was in 2002? I mean, the same numbers of people are being killed there every year, just not by him. Under his rule, at least you knew if you stepped out of line his goons were gonna come get you in the middle of the night. Now, if you just happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, you're screwed (re.: dead). We really fouled up there at every turn. I was too tied to party and military background to see it before, but I can see it clear as a bell now. Not saying we should have never went in. I'm just saying that we should have went in differently. Starting off with a actual purpose, instead of unvetted intel from foreign countries, and ending up with a overwhelming war, followed by complete military rule for a period of decades. The folks in that area are not like us. They have been told when, how, and how much to crap for all of their lives. You can't just thrust democracy on them and expect them to get it. That's the same as going on a vacation and leaving your 5 year old kid at home to take care of themselves. Sorry to the OP. I never meant to go political in this thread. I will stop now.

Saw it. Wasn't great, but wasn't bad. Wished I had not have spent the money on it. Should have waited for Netflix to have it. Wasn't overtly against the Bush administration. BTW...there still hasn't been any WMD's found. What if it really went down the way the movie portrayed it; some mid-level washington weenie falsifying intel to make a name for himself. And before anyone goes to calling me some leftist weenie, I am a vet, I was there the first time, and I know that they had WMD's prior to 1990. I have no doubts that they had them after that date as well, but they most likely had been moved out of the country well before '03. We went there for BS reasons, under a BS president, and BS civilian leadership over the military. Many a good soldier has been laid to rest for absolutely no reason. Hooah? EDIT: I was a huge supporter of the war up until the last few months. Thinking back on things, I just can't see any logic or reasoning for going there. They are really no better off sans Hussein. It was a effed up crap hole before we went there, and it is a effed up crap hole now.

I practice shooting and back peddling a lot. I also try to practice from a butt on the ground (as if I was pushed to the floor) position, too.

I agree with most everything said here. I purchased a Rock River Arms LAR-15/CAR A4 5.56/.223 a couple of months ago, and I am very happy with it. I would suggest them to anyone. The prices are reasonable, too. Rock River Arms: Most dealers offer this brand. The thing you need to be looking at is how do you want to outfit the rifle, because that will determine the rifle you buy. Some guys prefer the A2, non-collapsable stock and iron sights that they used in the military, because they are used to the weight and feel of it. I had many thousands of rounds through that type of rifle, but it had been a long time ago, so I found a few friends with different AR configurations and I played with all of them before deciding. I also did quite a bit of reading on accessories before buying. I ended up with a flat top model, which easily enabled me to mount a EOTech holographic sight on top. It allows for uber quick target acquisition. It might be hard to make pretty groups with that sight, but when you absolutely, positively need something to be dead right then, there is no better or faster way to get on target. I also added a rear iron sight to be able to make the pretty little groups at the range. Since I have the quad rail out front, I had to have a forward hand grip. If you get rails, they will get very hot if you put a lot of rounds downrange in a short time, so the grip is pretty much mandatory. If you're not used to shooting one, don't worry, because you will quickly adapt. Good luck on your purchase. I also wanted to add that if you really don't want to sink over a grand into a rifle and accessories, take a look at the AK. It's not as accurate (IMHO) as the AR, but they are plentiful, and much cheaper than the AR. Plus, the 7.62x39 ammo is readily available just about anywhere, and much cheaper than the 5.56/.223. You can hang all kinds of accessories from these rifles as well.

The only contest I'll be taking part in this week is dodging out of town race fans! The population of my town will triple this week, and by Saturday evening you won't even be able to get to the grocery store. It's cool though, they enjoy our little city, and they bring in lots of revenue.

That's the way Uncle Sam taught me...and those instructors did a good job of drilling it in my head.

Can't see just replacing the pic without correcting the underlying problem, though...whatever that turns out to be.

I'm with you guys on this. I don't recall anything like this on any of my military M-16's, and I shot both the A1 and A2. A shiny, wear mark, yes, but a gouge no. I am going to replace it with a roller cam(?) and re-inspect the carrier and see what happens.