Sheepdog

I gotta know--how do you eat the wheat berries? I just ordered some, due to their reputed shelf life, protein content and nutrient retention, but I'm still not sure how I'm going to prepare it. If I can find a way to make it palatable enough to eat, I'll buy more of it, but this first order is totally experimental. Oh, and if you've ordered lately, do you know of a good place to get it?

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

Only downsides I can think of right now are that, post-election, mags have been hard to come by, and I've heard that Springfield has raised prices on them ($30 per). As for OWB holsters, I use the Blackhawk Serpa, which is available either in plain polymer or carbon fiber. I've got three XD45s--two service, one tactical. Great pistols out of the box, all of them. The only model I haven't liked, though, is the compact. I'd rather have a full length grip, because it doesn't do much to decrease its concealability (probably a moot point in an OWB holster, anyway), it gives me better control when shooting, and it's much easier to find magazines for it. Of course, you could use the standard 13-round mags, but you'd probably want to find some grip sleeves for them (not just for cosmetic reasons, but because repeatedly slamming a bare full-length mag into the gun could damage the magazine catch or the feed lips).

I want a Lego figure of a Muslim baby in a suicide bomb belt.

Actually, none of my guns are registered, and they were all acquired legally. Not every state requires you to register your guns. As for Burress himself, yeah, he's probably an ass clown. BUT... The way I see it, the only thing he did wrong was not use a holster. Did he break the law? Yes, so I guess that means "he acted like a criminal." But where the law is unjust, "acting like a criminal" and "acting like a decent citizen" are not mutually exclusive.

Actually, in a famine situation, the most scarce, most expensive foods are the proteins. Carbs are not food. They are energy. In order for the body to repair itself and grow muscle, it needs protein. The best source for that is meat. Carbs can be scavenged from wild, edible plants, or grown in a garden. I second the potted meat for storage. Also, learn to make jerky. And if you don't already know how, learn how to hunt.

How do you like that SAO? I've got an opportunity to buy a P220 SAO, and I really like the trigger when I dry fire it in the store. I just don't know if I can justify spending that much on a gun that only holds 9+1 rounds, and whose mags run $30+ per. All of my other .45s are Springfield XDs--I was trying to standardize, so they'd all have common magazines, and I could cannibalize any gun that broke for parts. Good guns, but...I'd really like to have one with a great trigger and a nice finish. For "formal occasions."

Just tell her what I'll tell my wife when she finds out. "But honey, it's for the children..." Mine in the middle, flanked by my daughters' Christmas presents. Still waiting on a couple of EOTech 512s to put on them. Of course, this will be totally indefensible... M1A SOCOM 16 on the left, and my Colt, again, on the right. Both have ACOGs mounted--6x and 4x, respectively. I had no idea the 6x would be so huge. Wifey knows about my AR. She'll find out about the kids' ARs on Christmas. And she still hasn't seen the M1A...because, y'know, I figure she's not really interested in that kind of thing... So yeah, Deerslayer...you may have a bitchin' case of of EBR fever. Mine, though, may be fatal .

Because the BAC is patented by Trijicon, and using it with another scope is a form of piracy. Okay, not really. To be perfectly honest, the Bindon Aiming Concept is more of a skill than a feature of the scope. It can be done with other magnified and illuminated optics. However, Trijicon has done a few things to make the skill easier to learn and use with their scopes. The first thing is the light pipe--an optic fiber that takes ambient light and concentrates it in the reticle image. The dot is, under most conditions, very bright against the target, and provides excellent contrast. (I'm talking about the red reticles, here. Amber is available; I've not used that color, but because it doesn't provide as much contrast as red, I don't expect the BAC would work as well with it. The Leupold Mk4, by the way, uses an illuminated amber reticle.) The second thing is the shape of the reticle, or at least the illuminated part of it. It's small and centered, drawing your gaze through the center of the scope. The Leupold reticle is a larger illuminated circle surrounding an illuminated dot. To me, it seemed more "busy" than the single focus of the ACOG. The third thing is that the ACOG has a larger objective lens than the Leupold Mk4 (which is actually just 3x, max), which gives you a brighter picture through the scope with a wider field of view, making the transition between non-magnified and magnified sight pictures easier. (Disclaimer: the points I made above are just my opinions and may, in fact, be based entirely on the Trijicon Fanboyism that is included in the price of the scope. I'm trying to be objective, through, and that really is the way I think the ACOGs work.) I've not had a chance to use the EOTech with a magnifier, so I don't know how that setup would compare, as far as the optics alone go. Nor have I used the Aimpoint scopes, which again, are all 1x, with an optional 3x magnifier. (You'd also need the 3x magnifier mount, which is an additional, and in my opinion, exorbitant, expense.) These setups may work as well, or better, than the Trijicon--but you'll still have the issues of batteries, multiple parts, extra bulk and weight, and higher overall cost than the ACOG. An additional note about the Leupold Mk4 is that it appears to have a rail on the top of the scope. This may allow the mounting of a Docter sight which, if you keep the scope dialed up to 3x, would give you faster close target acquisition (all 1x red dot sights will be faster, because you don't need to take the time to transition from one eye to the other). However again, I don't think the cost is worth it.

I've got a box. It should still be good...there's no expiration date on it. I've also got a Glock 19 magazine full of them. I'd probably better check on the spring...

Yes, it's a fixed power scope. But when you're using the ACOG, either scanning for targets or moving with the rifle welded to your cheek, your left eye will be dominant, giving you, effectively, 1x magnification and a wide field of view. The reticle will still be visible, and will be superimposed on (or near, depending on the range) the point of impact. As soon as you focus on a target, however, your right eye becomes dominant and, looking through the scope, your view is instantly magnified 4x, and the position of the reticle on the target doesn't change. Making the switch between one eye and another does take a little bit of practice, but it is pretty instinctive and easily mastered. So although the scope is fixed power, it is effectively a 1x/4x optic that is controlled by your brain. How cool is that? All bets are off, of course, if you only have one eye... Oh, and by the way, the ACOG does have a bullet drop compensator built into the reticle, for shots out to 1000 yards. It is calibrated, I believe, for 55gr bullets leaving the barrel at ~3000 ft/sec. Of course, at 4x and that bullet weight, you're probably not going to be taking a lot of shots at 1000 yards. However, closer in, and with other bullet weights, I'm sure the scope will be plenty accurate for social engagements.

If you want a scope that will give you rapid target acquisition with a wide field of view at close range, yet will also provide magnification for longer-range engagements, I'd recommend the Trijicon ACOG models with the BAC (Bindon Aiming Concept) setup. 3x Model 4x Model Yeah, pricey. But if you've got a C&R FFL, you can sign up for dealer pricing at Midway, and get a pretty good discount on the 4x model. You can also probably find them cheaper elsewhere, if you look around enough. I've got the 4x model on my AR. While it doesn't provide enough magnification to give me dime-sized groups at 100 yards, I think it's a great compromise between a precision scope and a "combat" optic. At close range, you keep both of your eyes open, and you see a glowing red dot (or donut, triangle, or chevron...whichever reticle you choose) superimposed on your near-field vision. When you "lock on" to a target, your vision automatically switches to the magnified view for more precise shot placement. I've tried the Leupold, and it's not bad. But I do think the Trijicon is better. And it doesn't require batteries. Also, the EOTech is nice. I've got a couple of those on order for my daughters' ARs--young eyes don't need the magnification. Magnifiers are available for the EOTech, but if you go with the 4x magnifier with the side-flip mount, you'll go way over the cost of the ACOG, for a solution which requires batteries and has moving parts which can break, and would be slow to mess with in a SHTF situation.

You answered 33 out of 33 correctly — 100.00 % Average score for this quiz during November: 77.9% Average score: 77.9%

So sorry to hear about your son, Tungsten. Your family is in my prayers.

Actually, the ranger was a very reasonable fellow, and quite restrained when admonishing the group down on the pistol range. A bunch of guys were shooting shotguns, which is against the rules. They were also using the shotguns to shoot the target stands, which is also against the rules. Regarding the sign-in sheet, he told me that he needs to show the bean counters that the range is being used, because they're wanting to cut the range budget. He said that he didn't care if he got 50 "John Does" signing the sheet, as long as he can show that the public is using the facility.

I've got one for the Glock 19 frame. I like it. It's as reliable as your magazines are, and there are no problems shooting lead through it. I've got a TruGlo red dot sight mounted on mine, and accuracy is certainly good enough for social applications. What don't I like about it? Well, it's ugly. But I think its true beauty is in how well it works. I'll try to post a few pics later.

That's odd. I moved from Florida to Tennessee three years ago. One of the first things I did was get a TN permit. Nobody asked me to surrender the Florida permit, and when I called to change my address with the Florida Division of Licensing, they told me that the permit would continue to be valid until its expiration date. At that time, I would have to get an out-of-state permit. When the time comes (in 2011), I'll likely do that, just for the heck of it. It was really nice to be able to carry on my Florida permit while waiting for my Tennessee permit.

I reload 9mm, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, .45 ACP and 5.56. Getting ready to start loading .308. Single stage RCBS Rock Chucker press.

(Crossposted from another forum. If you know me from there, hello again.) Well, a few weeks late, but here she is... So far, I've only put 20 rounds through it. Ammo is expensive, and the groups I was getting with the first box didn't justify using up another. Not that I suspect the rifle of being inaccurate--it's just that my eyes are crap, and I can barely see the target at 50 yards. Even with the neon orange VisiShot targets, I have no clue where I'm hitting until I retrieve the paper. This is one of my better targets, though. Anyway, I've decided that I need to put a scope on it. One thing I noticed, though, is that even after only 20 rounds, slow-fire, the scope mount was...very warm. In fact, I started to suspect it wasn't a scope mount at all, but a heat sink, and wondered if anyone made cooling fans with picatinny mounts. I also wondered, if I were to mount a scope on the heat sink, would the heat affect the scope? Might it kill an electronic red-dot sight? I decided I didn't want to find out. So I ordered a Trijicon TA-70 scope mount. I went with it, because unlike the Springfield scope mount, it appears to use the rear dovetail where the stripper clip guide is currently located. I think that will provide a more solid mounting platform. Aligning the mount should also be easier than adjusting the screw bushing on the Springfield. And finally, by placing a mount on the back end of the rifle, I'm not restricted to using "scout" type scopes. That should be here Monday. (Update: It's here! Will install it this weekend.) Once I've got that on the rifle, I'll need to pick a scope. Since I'm definitely going to need magnification, and I want a red-dot scope, I think I'm going to go with Trijicon again--the TA648-308 ACOG. This one is a 6x model, which should help me see the targets better at 100 yards and, if ever they invent a really kick-ass vision correction procedure, beyond. I've already got a 4x ACOG on my AR, and it really helps me see where I'm aiming. I'm hoping for even better results with the 6x. My gun fund almost has enough in it to buy it, and hopefully I'll have it pretty soon. I'll post here again when I've had a chance to try it out. Quick impressions of the rifle, based on the few rounds I've put through it. 1. I like! 2. .308 through that 16.25" barrel is loud, but not as loud as I was led to believe. 3. Recoil isn't bad. 4. Trigger is good, with short take-up, no creep. The break feels a little heavy, but crisp. 5. Everything on the rifle is tight when new. But practicing mag changes and playing with the elevation/windage knobs seems to have loosened things up a little bit. The safety, however, still requires a good bit of effort to engage or disengage. 6. Forward hand position is far more restricted compared with most other rifles. As mentioned previously, the forward-mounted rail gets kind of hot when shooting. But if you've got long fingers, they tend to wrap around and touch it. You could try to move your hand forward, but the sling swivel gets in the way, and is uncomfortable between your fingers. Moving your hand back is generally a bad idea, because gripping the rifle will interfere with the op rod...or it will interfere with your fingers. So for me, at least, I find myself having to push my index finger up against the back of the forward sling swivel, and keep my fingers and palm curled out a bit. This isn't the most comfortable hand position, and it may not be the most stable, but I'll practice with it and see if it is workable. 7. Minor quibble 1--there's an area where the op rod apparently rubs, and the metal is bare in this area. 8. Minor quibble 2--the elevation adjustment for the iron sights seems to be off a little bit. Coming from the factory, the sights seemed to be set for well under 100 meters (yards?). I couldn't dial the knob back far enough to get down to the 100 meter tick mark. The dial read about 700 meters with the sight at its lowest position. In order to set the range at 100 meters, I have to turn it quite a bit in the other direction, rolling past the 1000 meter mark to get back to the 100. At this point, the sight sticks up a little bit. Turning the knob as far as it can go in this direction, I can only dial it up to 900 meters before the sight reaches its highest point. The manual does not say if the yardage (meterage?) dial itself can be adjusted. That's pretty much all I can say about it for now. I do have a couple of questions that maybe someone can answer. At the butt of the rifle stock, there's a metal plate that flips up. What is this for? So you can rest the rifle on your shoulder, like an RPG? A reverse bayonet? Garden trowel? Also, someone told me that if I'm going to use a scope, I'm going to need an elevated cheek pad. Is this really necessary, and if so, is there one that's preferable to the others?

Here's a New York Times article from when this happened, back in 1999...

Well thanks for being so honest about it. This is exactly what I was referring to when I posted earlier: Now, how many times will I have to bring up history before you tell us what happens when gas prices are artificially controlled--either by government decree, or by people threatening station attendants with their arsenals? Is your solution going to make things better for everyone, or just for you?

No, there was no crisis. Which proves my point all the more. A minor economic hiccup, and you're calling for the abolition of owners' rights. How can you be trusted to honor people's rights if a real emergency hits? A wise man once said, "There is nothing new under the sun." And that holds true for price controls, including controls on the price of gasoline. In America, even. So since we have historical precedent, and you seem to have strong opinions on how the economy ought to be run, perhaps you can tell us what happens when the government controls the prices of goods and services? I mean, your opinions are based on something other than anger at the high cost of gas, aren't they? Here's a handy dandy cheat sheet, if you need one.

No, I don't really think that disaster prep is foolish. That was sarcasm. But the caveat about fellow gun owners--and possibly, fellow posters here--thinking that their needs trump the rights of others...well, I'd like to think that's a joke. But some of the attitudes expressed here make that ring too true to laugh. You've already said you don't respect the rights of individuals to price their gas as they choose during this tiny little hiccup. So during a major crisis, how can we expect you to respect the rights of individuals to price their emergency supplies--or to not sell them--as they choose? What I have a strong negative reaction to is socialism. Government interference in the free market f***s things up. The situation that you described with your M&P--you think it hasn't happened before? Are you old enough to remember when Colt announced that they would no longer sell their revolvers? Or when they announced that they would no longer sell their 1911's? Hell, do you remember when Bill Clinton signed the 1994 Assault Weapons Ban? What do you think happened to the prices of those guns that were still on the dealers' shelves? Should the dealers have been prevented from "gouging" customers? You say that I haven't provided any solutions, but yes, I have. Drive less, drive slower, and spend less on frivolous items. No, they're not solutions that will lower the price of gas. But they will keep you driving where you need to go. There are NO short-term solutions that can provide gas that is both cheap and plentiful. NO legislation can make that happen, because economies cannot and do not run according to dictatorial fiat. It is an economic law that if you want cheaper gas, you're going to have to either increase the supply, or decrease the demand. So if you're willing to accept a long-term solution, then kick the "green" congressmen out on their asses in November. Then drill here, drill now, and build a s***load of new refineries.

No, disaster preparation and storage of essentials is for suckers. You see, when the Schumer hits the fan, there are people out there who are going to say, "You've got food! You've got water! You've got medicines! You've got fuel! We've got nothing! That means you must help us!" That's the real zombie threat. And that sad thing is, a lot of them are going to be gun owners who will justify murdering you and your family by saying, "Well, hell, it was an emergency, and we neeeeeeded that s***." Then they're going sit their asses down in front of their big-screen plasma TVs, and eat your MREs while waiting for the power to come back on.

At the heart of communism lies the idea that one person's need creates an obligation in his fellow man to meet it. You're both missing the point. A dollar is a dollar is a dollar. The beauty of our economic system is that YOU get to choose what your dollar will be used for. If you choose to meet your needs, such as gas, you will have less money for other things. Now, if you want somebody else to subsidize your gas, what you're saying is that you want to be able to use your dollars for other things. Things like the ones in the list I posted above. It makes no sense at all to say, "I want the government to use my tax dollars to subsidize or enforce the sale of cheap gas, so I can use the money I save to buy Coldplay's Greatest Hits CD and help get this economy moving." There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch. And if the government says they can at least make your lunch cheaper, then Be. F***ing. Ware.