Tri-Cities Bob

My understanding of Tennessee's policy is that if we (TN) have reciprocity with another state WHICH HAS ESSENTIALLY THE SAME REQUIREMENTS AS TENNESSEE (including a required course that includes classroom and shooting, and fingerprints) then those requirements are waived, along with $65 of the original permit fee, which goes to the folks taking your fingerprints, and the Tennessee permit will be issued following receipt of the $50 fee, a completed application and the record review by FBI, TBI and your county law enforcement agency. I've been told that the average time between application and receipt of the permit (assuming there are no problems that may delay it) is now about three weeks.

If I need to draw my pistol in a self-defense situation it needs to be ready NOW. The usual situation would be that you are suddenly confronted by an armed assailant. He now has the advantage. You're ace in the hole is the element of surprise since he probably doesn't know you are armed. Since he has the drop on you, you'll have to find an opportunity to draw your firearm when he's distracted by something else. When this fleeting moment arrives you do not want to have to rack the slide before you're ready to shoot. If you're uncomfortable carrying with a round in the chamber you should look at purchasing another pistol with enough built-in safety features that you will be comfortable. To echo an earlier comment, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A DECENT QUALITY HOLSTER THAT COVERS THE TRIGGER.

Thanks for the correct term. Now I can pass it on to all those eager minds.

I have been an NRA Certified Instructor for several decades and this question had never come up before. In a recent class a student asked me for the correct name for the chamber alignment slots located on the cylinder of revolvers. I have since researched the topic and haven't found a good answer. One source refered to these slots as "indents", but that doesn't seem to be the correct terminology. These slots are clearly shown in every nomenclature diagram I have seen, yet they never seem to be identified. For clarification, the slots I am talking about are located on the cylinder and when the cylinder rotates the bolt rises from the bottom of the frame and engages the appropriate slot, assuring that the alignment between the selected chamber and the barrel is correct. Can anyone out there tell me if there is a correct term to identify these slots/indent? Thanks for your assistance.

First, look at the above post from Jonnin, which is a quote from the TN.GOV Handgun web site which identifies the agencies from which the Tennessee Department of Safety will accept instructor credentials. I'm an NRA Certified Instructor in rifle, pistol, shotgun, home firearms safety, personal protection inside the home (and RSO), and a Tennessee State Certified Handgun Course Instructor. In order to be certified as a TN Handgun Instructor an individual has to hold a current certification from the NRA (no specific specialty is indicated, just an NRA Certified Instructor of some kind), or one of the other listed agencies. Tennessee has no class, training or specific exam for their State instructors to complete in order to qualify as a TN Certified Instructor. AFTER you have your credentials for one of the listed agencies (such as the NRA), you print off an instructor application from the TN.GOV web site, attach a copy of your certification credentials and any other background documents you wish to send, and mail those documents along with a check for $25 to the Tennessee Department of Safety. In my experience, in about two weeks you will receive a FedEx envelope with your Tennessee Certified Firearms Instructor certificate. Having reviewed the Tennessee Handgun Course curriculum, it appears they copied most of it from the NRA Basic Pistol course, changed the firing range qualification somewhat to meet their requirements, and cover all the legal aspects of carrying a firearm in public by providing a DVD copy of the video to the certified school (which can be seen on the TN.GOV Handgun web site); thus relieving the on-scene instructors of the problems and liability associated with teaching the legal aspects of carrying. If you haven't completed an NRA instructor certification yet, I'd suggest you complete the NRA Basic Pistol qualification, but I believe any NRA instructor certification will qualify.

As before, you're going to have to give up some of your requirements. You say you want a light CCW that carries 15 rounds. Think about what just 15 rounds of ammo weighs. Take a look at the Sig Sauer P239. It's available in several calibers, including 9mm and it has a 8+1 capacity in 9mm. It is generally accepted as very accurate and reliable -- it's a Sig. For a compact pistol the grip is relativel large and comfortable and it's 1.2 inches wide. It's also a DA/SA. It has a stainless steel slide and an aluminum frame, so it's not super light, but it's probably quite a bit lighter than anything you'll carry with 15 rounds. It will probably run you about $700, but that includes two 8 round magazines. I understand a 10 round magazine is available (it has an extension) but I haven't seen one yet. Good luck!

I checked the Bushnell web site and their warranty is for the lifetime of the original owner. I know some scope manufactures cover subsequent owners too, but not Bushnell. Thanks for the thought.

Thanks. I figured that was the case but since I'm not the original owner the "lifetime warantee" doesn't apply. It's not a top shelf scope, so I'm probably better off just getting a new one. I was hoping there was an easy fix I wasn't aware of.

I recently purchased a rifle and scope on GunBroker.com. They both appear in excellent condition. The rifle is a Ruger 10/22 Target and has shot sub-MOA groups at 100 yards. The problem is with the scope. It's a Bushnell 4-12x 50mm SportView. When I change the focal length, either from 4x to 12 or from 12x to 4x, the crosshairs shift either clockwise or counterclockwise (whichever way the focal length adjustment ring has been turned). They were originally perfectly level with the rifle but now are sometimes up to 45 degrees off level. They seem to move somewhat every time I change the scope's focal length. Is there a simple adjustment somewhere to lock the crosshairs in one position or do I need a new scope? Although I've been shooting for about 40 years, it has always been with iron sights so this is new to me. Thanks for any advice you can give.

Just another thought -- Do you really want to put yourself in the position of carrying a handgun when there's nothing you do with it but throw it at someone? If you are robbed and the thief finds out you have an uloaded weapon, it's now his/hers. I agree that you should get used to rigging your holster/weapon inside your home unitl you actually get you HCP. It seems like it takes forever, but recently the wait from submitting your application and fingerprints to receiving the HCP is about a month, sometimes less.

The folks at the DMV offices usually are pretty good at knowing what documents are acceptable and which ones are not. If he/she took your DD214 as proof of a birth date it's more than likely okay. Concerning the recent comment about the DD214 being used to cover the class requirement, most DD214's don't address specific firearms training in the military unless it was a formal course you attended. They may (should) list your awards, which may include a rifle and/or pistol qualification. Since that doesn't necessarily include any formal firearms training (it probably did but if it isn't specified in the document it didn't happen) it probably won't suffice to prove sufficient familiarity with the safe handling of firearms to replace the requirement for the handgun carry course.

I regularly carry my Walther PPS-9 in one of my two "tuckable" inside the waistmand holsters. Both work fine, even in light, summer clothing (not too tight). One holster is a DeSantis "Tuck This II", which is very effective and relatively easy to put on and take off. It's not too comfortable is worn for more than about an hour and doesn't allow you tuck your shirt too deeply. My other holster is a Crossbreed MiniTuck. The Crossbreed is a little harder to put on but is much more comfortable. It also allows you to tuck your shirt deeper into your pants. My Crossbreed has two belt clips, which can be seen outside the belt (but nobody has ever asked me what they are for) but it has a velcro option which secures the clips to the back of either their belt or your belt (after you have installed the velcro pads on it). If I'm just "popping out" for a few minutes I often use a DeSantis "Super Fly" pocket holster. It's usually very easy to slip in my pocket (depending on pocket size of the pants I'm wearing), provides good concealment (you can tell there's something in my front pocket but it looks like a wallet or PDA, and provides reasonably good access to my weapon. Good luck!

Welcome from a neighbor from Johnson City.

Thanks much for the info. As I mentioned, I've had O/U's for about 40 years but they've been Winchesters and Remingtons with mechanical trigger selectors. I just got a used Charles Daly/Miroku and thought it was malfunctioning when the first snap cap was hit but the second barrel wouldn't fire. Silly me! I've never known a skeet or trap shooter who has had a malfunction with any of these systems, but I'm sure it has happened. Thanks again.

Although I have owned O/U shotguns for almost 40 years, I had never heard of an intertial trigger selector before a few days ago. My brief study shows that they are quite common. Does anybody have any experience and/or opinions concerning the reliability and pros and cons of an inertial versus mechanical trigger selector?

I just submitted an order via mail. When I didn't get a confirmation of my order after 10 days I E-mailed them. Their reply said they were way behind in opening their mail and to contact them if I hadn't heard in another two weeks. Don't know what that means for delivery dates of rifles ordered but it can't be good. Driving down sounds better all the time. Don't forget the Camp Perry matches are taking place and I'm sure some of the Anniston personnel are probably at Camp Perry.

Thanks for the welcome. I just joined Unaka and intend to shoot in the August military match (M1A - open class). I've also been trying to dust off my skeet shooting and was at the skeet range last week.

My name is Bob and I'm a member of Unaka Rod & Gun Club. I'm interested in skeet, rifle and pistol shooting and I recently got my Handgun Carry Permit (it only took 20 days from submission of my application and fingerprints to receipt of the permit).