Sheepdog

How much profit they make is completely irrelevant. It's. Their. Gas. Or as John F. Kerry might say, "There's some nuance to pricing when it comes to gas." Bull****. The pricing of any "essential" item is no different than it is for any other item. The seller charges what the market will bear. You think the market will tolerate $20 gas? Someday, it might. But it sure as hell won't right now. It's hard enough to get people to pay $3.50/gallon right now. Do they pay it? Yes...but what's happened? Two things. 1) People have started changing their driving habits. You know gas prices are high when they get me to stop hitting 90 mph every day when I go to work. I also don't make those small single-item trips to the store anymore. And I've really had to cut down my trips out to the Prentice Cooper range. And millions of other people are making changes like this, too. 2) People have started cutting back on non-essential expenses. I don't know if anybody else has noticed, but restaurants aren't as full anymore, and the movie theaters aren't as busy. Even Starbucks is closing some of its coffee shops. Having to pay more for gas means that people are not going to be able to spend as much on luxury items and entertainment. Basically, anybody who says that Americans have a right to cheap gas, and demands that the government enforce it, is saying that Americans have a right to affordable CDs, DVDs, video game consoles, televisions, cable/satellite programming, movie tickets, designer clothes, handbags and shoes, electronic gadgets, cool cars and motorcycles, ATVs and jet skis, guns and ammo, high-speed internet access, vacations to Dollywood, cigarettes, alcohol, hookers and any other personal indulgences that we no longer have as much money for. You think I like high gas prices? Hell, no! But I do like having gas. And EVERY TIME the government imposes price controls, it creates shortages. As bad as high prices are, they're a hell of a lot better than rationing.

If I didn't hold back, I'd probably get kicked off the board. But GUTTERbOY and slothful1 are absolutely right. THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS "PRICE GOUGING!" I'll let George Mason University Professor of Economics Walter E. Williams do that. But aside from his explanation, the root of the matter is, IT'S THEIR F@(%ING GAS. You know, I've always looked at the 2nd Amendment as our Founders' guarantee that we'd be able to protect our freedoms. And the right to buy stuff, and re-sell it for whatever price we can get for it is one of those freedoms. You shortsighted people, who think that your neeeeed trumps others' rights of ownership and commerce, are little different from the Obama marxists, aside from, perhaps, your support of gun rights, the war in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the unborn.

There is no such thing as "price gouging." That is all.

I used to absolutely love Bond flicks, and Connery was definitely at the top of my list. But the sad fact is, none of the old Bond films have aged very well, and I find that watching them these days ruins my memories of enjoying them before. That's why I voted for Daniel Craig. He's got an unfair advantage, as it's a "reboot" of the Bond franchise, and was thus able to be the first really modern Bond film. But Casino Royale was the first Bond film I've really enjoyed in a long time, and the only one I can rewatch with any real enjoyment. Yeah, he's only made two movies so far, and one of them hasn't even been released yet. So we'll have to wait and see if the franchise has truly been resurrected, or if it's just a reanimated rotting husk that will quickly march itself into shambles. Hey, this is a gun forum...I had to bring zombies into it, somehow. And while we're tangentially on the topic...it's still a pity that every single actor to play Bond has been a GFW (gun-fearing wuss).

More like, "This thing means you need a life." That said, I have nothing against open carry. I've done it a couple of times, just to see how other people would react, and in my experience... Most people don't notice. Those who do notice usually seem unbothered by it. Those who are bothered by it tend to be working as cashiers. Street bums don't harass you for change. While I'm more comfortable keeping it concealed, I am glad that I don't have to.

I've got one, and I have no problem shooting the Speer Gold Dot in 125gr .357 Mag. What I can't shoot a lot of, however, are the Remington jacketed soft point 125gr, also in .357 Mag. These are a lot hotter, I think, and I've still got an almost-full box of them that I've had for nearly a year. That said, I love this gun. It goes practically everywhere I do, because it's so damn easy to carry. Depending on what I'm wearing, it's either in a SmartCarry holster (under my hospital scrubs), a DeSantis Nemesis (when I'm wearing shorts), or a Blackhawk Serpa (when I'm wearing jeans and an untucked shirt...or want to carry openly).

I was carrying my S&W 340PD in a DeSantis Nemesis holster, but yesterday I bought the Blackhawk Serpa for it. Although it's an OWB holster, I can easily conceal it under an untucked shirt. (Of course, I can also conceal my 5" XD45 the same way, also in a Serpa, so maybe it's just me.)

Chiming in late, but this happened to me also. I've had my C&R a little over a year. I simply took the Sheriff's letter, along with all the ATF paperwork he returned to me, and filed it with my original C&R license. If ATF comes knocking, I have proof that I followed their instructions exactly. The Sheriff's office was notified. What they choose to do about/with that notification is their business.

I just recently purchased a Crosman airsoft pistol from Wal-Mart. It's the CO2 version, with the 15-round magazine. I actually bought it as a dog training aid. For when he decided he was going to do something he wasn't supposed to just because he thought he was far enough from me to get away with it. After testing it on a cardboard box, though, I decided that it hit a little too hard to use it on the dog. On the other hand, I've had a good bit of fun with it. Good practice for up close, but not really accurate enough for long distance work. It can definitely, however, hit a dog-siz...I mean, man-sized target in the "kill zone" consistently, from 10 yards.

Does anyone seriously think Hillary will be chosen for for VP? Especially after her assassination comment, a number of ex-associates whose deaths are at least mildly suspect, and the raw lust for power that she's demonstrated over the years? Hillary's presidential hopes are like a drowning man--if you swim out to save him, he might take you down with him. I doubt that Obama will endanger his campaign like that.

Well, I ended up at the range by myself, but at least I didn't have to explain my poor shooting to anyone (for the record, though, it was the gun). Plus I didn't have to fight with anyone over the abandoned brass. I'm up for next month, though. Sundays are best for me. Maybe I can get some help emptying those 33-round sticks next time...

Guns packed: Check. Ammo packed: Check. Ears & Eyes packed: Check. Wife's term paper done: Fail. She's almost done with it, and it's not due till Wednesday morning, but there's a chance I might be drafted to help her with it tonight. Everything is ready to go, and I'm going to try to sneak over there for at least a little bit. But if I don't make it, that's where I'll be.

Well, I'm planning to try out a new XD45 at PC tomorrow. Won't be able to get there before 17:30, though, so it'll probably be just me. If you're around, come by and say hello. I'll be the big guy in hospital scrubs.

Nothing personal to anyone, but until I see a link to the TN code, I'm calling BS on the limit for loaded ammo. Especially rimfire. 10,000 rounds of .22 really isn't all that much.

I might be able to make it, if it's still going on at 17:30. No way I'd be able to make lunch, though.

I just got back from a trip today, and had my S&W 340PD in my checked luggage. When I left a few days ago, TSA allowed me to keep my ammo--six rounds on a Bianchi Speed Strip, stored in the same hard-sided, locking case as the gun. When I flew back today, TSA told me that the Speed Strip was not an acceptable method for securing the ammo, and confiscated it. I've traveled with a variety of handguns over the years, and that's the worst story I have to tell about it.

I've read that Gen. Chuck Yeager, who flew a P-51 Mustang during WWII, also claimed to have been able to see the bullets he fired in combat. I've also seen bullets going downrange. I was shooting a .380 in an eastward direction just before sunset. The sunlight reflected off the copper on the base of the bullet, giving it a sort of tracer effect. I was only able to do this for a couple of minutes, and have been unable to reproduce it since.

April doesn't look too good for Prentice Cooper. Aside from the fact that they're closed every Tuesday and Wednesday, it's also closed for managed hunts from April 1-6, 8-10, 17-19 and 22-27. (Info shamelessly stolen from Mousegunner's site--thx, dude!). If we're talking third week of April, our options are Sunday or Monday. Fourth week options are Sunday or Monday. Fifth week would be Monday only (or, if you want to get into May, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are open that week.) And again, remember that Sundays, they'll open at 1:00 Chattanooga time.

I also had one for my Glock 19. I would use it when carrying using my SmartCarry holster. Yes, it might have added a half second to my "draw and shoot" time, but what that muzzle was pointing at at the beginning of that half second, and what it was pointing at at the end of that half second, is what mattered to me.

Cruise security is not nearly as stringent as airport security. Yes, you will have to pass through a metal detector. Yes, your bags are X-rayed. This happens every time you board the ship, at every port of call. However, I have never seen anyone subjected to a pat-down or asked to remove their shoes or anything else. Security screeners are mostly focused on preventing passengers from bringing their own booze onto the ship, and weapons concerns are secondary. A small polymer knife (also available from Cold Steel, priced to be disposable), kept on your person, would be extremely unlikely to be detected. Just keep in mind that the Cold Steel "Nightshade" line does not come with sheaths, and they will rip up your pockets (and flesh) if you don't improvise one. Keys on a kubaton would be impractical, as there is no need to carry keys at all on your cruise. Cabin access is controlled by a magnetic card, like most hotels. This magnetic card will likely also function as your wallet, as it will probably be the only way to pay for anything being sold by the cruise line--drinks, gambling, on-board stores, show tickets or anything else not included in the price of your fare. If you carry your keys around, you only risk being locked out of your car and house when you return. Nearly all shore excursions will end by 5:00, ship time, so you're not going to be wandering the darkened streets of some foreign town, unless you miss the boat. If you think this is likely, a flashlight would be a good idea, as well as a credit card, an international phone card, and a wad of cash. Try to get transport to the nearest town with an airport before sundown. Overall, the port areas are generally free of crime, other than pickpockets or vendors hawking fraudulent merchandise. Venture out, and odds are, if you're attacked, you'll face multiple hostiles who will most certainly be better armed. Your best defense, as always, is going to be situational awareness and common sense.

To be more specific, Prentice Cooper is open on Sunday, but not until after 12:00 Central Time. That would be 1:00, Chattanooga time. Once ya'll decide on a date and place, I'll see if I can make it.

Some years ago, I read an article stating that Glaser Safety Slugs were effective at shredding Kevlar body armor. They wouldn't penetrate intact body armor, but would make it far less effective against followup hardball or hollowpoint rounds. Not that this would be practical in a gunfight, unless you're able to put two or three rounds into the same 4" on a moving target while dodging return fire.

If you're in a gunfight where the maximum effective range of either 10mm or .357 Sig is a factor, you're either at war with a non-issued weapon, or you're going to need a really good lawyer. Both rounds are going to be plenty effective within 21 feet--where most gunfights occur. A more practical question would be, which round can you shoot better?

If you have a Glock or a 1911, consider the Mech-Tech CCU. I've got one for a Glock 19, and I like it very much. It's reliable and accurate. Base price is about $339, with options to dress it up a bit costing extra.

I don't know of anyplace to shoot skeet around Chattanooga. I pretty much shoot only handguns and rifles out at Prentice Cooper. I haven't been skeet shooting in ages, and never around here. I'll have to look up the info on Montlake, though. And pick up an appropriate skeet gun, too.