Wheelgunner

I'll be there in June. Never done one of these before, but it looks fun. Definitely want to take advantage while they'll still train me for free.

I didn't think anybody would care, much less know the case. Otherwise I would have attempted proper citation. If anybody else is interested, it was People v. Goetz, 506 N.Y. S.2d 18 (1986). You can read it at http://www.courts.state.ny.us/reporter/archives/p_goetz.htm . Interesting to read the wiki stuff first and then the case, since the case itself makes little mention of the timing of the shots, who was in danger besides Goetz, etc. While students learn about the legal doctrine of self-defense from this case, Goetz probably just learned that life is a lot less complicated if you don't ride the subway.

Yep, traps made the list. When you take into account that they are a reusable source of food, they weigh almost nothing. Also, seems like in a SHTF you'd have a lot to do. If instead of hunting you can set out a few traps and then focus on the next task, so much the better.

I love that your son is ready to do the right thing in an unsupervised situation. My money says before he's a teenager he will have convinced a few kids at school to do the same thing despite their parents being less proactive than you.

Read a case today from the '80s in NYC where the guy was confronted on a subway by four BGs. They made it clear that when the car cleared out he was gonna have trouble. BG no. 1 then walks over and says, "Give me some money." The defendant pulls a J-frame and shoots all four BGs. Then he goes back to BG no. 1 and says, "You don't look so bad. Here's another one for you," and shoots again. Turns out they were armed with screwdrivers, knives, etc. Despite the fact that he was carrying illegally, a jury acquitted the defendant of all charges based on self-defense. Great, right? However, in a later civil suit the estate of BG no. 1 was awarded something like $5 million based on the defendant shooting him that second time. My point is just to highlight that if you shoot after the threat is neutralized, even if you don't go to jail there may be severe civil consequences.

I agree with you. We all know that driving while talking on a phone leads to bad results, so I can only imagine that talking on a phone while preparing to fire in SD would prevent you from focusing on the threat. Along with that, I've wondered several times whether it's worth calling 911 before the confrontation with the bad guy. Essentially, dialing 911 gets a bunch of people on the scene quickly, and that means a bunch of people potentially in your field of fire, people who might not announce their presence... You see where I'm going. Are there instances where it makes more sense to wait until after the threat has ended to call 911?

It was a disappointing surprise to see such a level headed man respond to the trouble in Florida by indicating a gun's culpability. Obviously if the guy had been carrying a rake on his patrol and had killed the teenager with that instead, nobody would say that the heart of the problem was the rake. The argument doesn't make any more sense when you substitute one object for another. It's just another version of the same old nonsensical liberal mantra. Guns don't magically go off on their own. They don't kill people simply because they lack a trigger lock. And they certainly don't cast a spell of aggressiveness over an otherwise normal person. If a man picks up a firearm and suddenly feels the need to involve himself in an aggressive confrontation, he accomplished the entire psychological process in his head. The gun was not a part of it. Furthermore, as I understand the structure of our Government, a state can't pass a law in contravention of the federal constitution. A local police department's orders only have legal weight because of the authority of the state, meaning that policemen, also, cannot make unconstitutional rules (such as forbidding watchmen from legally carrying handguns). Therefore I fail to understand how participation in a neighborhood watch program somehow nullifies a citizen's constitutional rights, such as the right to bear arms. If that is legally possible, what other constitutional rights does it secretly render moot? Can soldiers now be quartered in my house without my permission because I am a member of a neighborhood watch? The gun-free neighborhood watch argument just doesn't hold water.

I wish somebody had told me to carry my knife on the opposite side from my handgun. That way if somebody tried to grab your weapon, you could retain it in the holster with one hand and bring out the knife with the other to go after their hands. Another one is that shirts with stripes or patterns print a lot less than solid color shirts. But like Mike.357 said, nobody notices an inch or two of barrel sticking out the bottom of your shirt except cops and other HCP holders. Experience is really the best teacher. Keep carrying responsibly and the rest will sort itself out.

From what little information the article contains, this seems to be BS. You generally don't get discharged (or even punished at all) for making comments like that, and I'm willing to bet that there's more to the story. Often a leader knows a soldier is bad news before the soldier has done anything meriting severe punishment, and that leader will wait to act. Then an opportunity will present itself, and the leader will drop the hammer for something seemingly random like this. All that being said, when I was on active duty I had better things to do than post controversial comments on Tea Party websites. I feel bad for the guy, but maybe he should have cleaned his weapon more, or done more PT, or spent more time training his soldiers...

A 2" barrel Ruger SP101 in .357 Mag loaded with 125 gr. Hornady hp ammo, with one speedloader. I usually carry in a Galco IWB holster at 5 o'clock, but when I hike I use a Fobus paddle holster at 3 o'clock. Same thing in the winter, but with ball ammo instead of hollow point.

Sorry to hear about your troubles. True words, though, about coughing up enough dough for a good carry gun. You can probably get away with skimping on most other areas (HD shotgun, paperpuncher rifle, trunk monkey) but that carry gun has to be 100% reliable. While you're in this vulnerable state of disappointment and frustration, I have to suggest a J-frame or Ruger SP101 as a pocket gun that will never let you down. Hope you have better luck with whatever replacement you choose.

I like the idea of being armed in the woods with a viable hunting weapon. I usually carry a .357 when hiking. .454 is a whole different class than .357, but certainly not overkill. If God forbid you got attacked you could push the muzzle right up against something and still have 5 rounds you can count on. If you don't end up using it, you still challenged yourself by carrying 4 lbs of hand cannon instead of a much lighter adequate weapon. Isn't challenging yourself the whole point of a good hike? Carry that big b@stard and then enjoy the bragging rights afterward.

@ the OP - I like that you and your wife were both there to react. It seems like I see a lot of lone parents with more two or three kids at the store, grocery, etc. When I see that I wonder, "What would you do if something bad happened right now? How would you get both (or all three) kids under control/protect them/get them to the car quickly?" Doubt it could be done. Like herding cats! Obviously, as they get older, this is less of an issue. I think the right answer starts with not leaving the house with more kids than you can handle (or in this case, pick up). I'll remember your story for a long time. Thanks for posting.

I think that's a good combination. Be sure to post some pics when you start rounding them up. As far as speedloaders, take a look at speed strips, too. You might be able to use speed strips with the Marlin.

1. 4.2" Ruger SP101 in .357 Magnum ...... $600 2. 18.5" Marlin 1894 in .357 Magnum .........$600 3. 18" Marlin 795 in .22 LR .........................$140 4. Mosin Nagant in 7.62x54R ......................$150 5. 50 round box of Magtech .357 SJSP x 3..$ 60 6. 500 round box of CCI 22LR LRN x 2........$ 45 $1595 later you have a hunting/self defense carbine that shares ammo with your sidearm, which you can hunt with also if need be. You have a .22 for small game and practicing marksmanship, and a long range rifle. You could realistically carry all four at the same time, with the carbine and .22 slung, revolver in a holster, and carrying the Mosin. You could load .38 ammo in the carbine and revolver if you're worried about overpenetration in a small home. The .22 rifle will give you better self-defense performance from the small 22LR cartridge than you would get from a .22 handgun. IMHO these weapons are well suited for family use because, unlike an AR or other automatics, they do not require extensive training on failure to fire drills. Teach your family the basics of weapons maintenance and muzzle awareness and y'all will be good to go. If you bought either of the .357s used you would have enough money left to get some ammo for the Mosin and cleaning kits for everything.

I don't think we are at a higher risk of being the subject of a traffic stop, etc. simply by way of holding a TN HCP. On the other hand, I see no need to ever buy (or convert) a SBR, a fully automatic weapon, or do anything else that would get my name on the federal radar. It's not a matter of paranoia; it's just my take on keeping a [cringe] honest government honest. Personally, I don't think anything like a nationwide confiscation will ever be attempted, much less successfully implemented. And I don't think that's due to some Red Dawn citizen guerrilla reaction it might cause; I think there's just a LOT of voters who own firearms. However, I do believe it's important to be vigilant.

I forgot the best part: She told me not to shoot any snakes while hiking the trail!! Obviously had no idea that the law says it's illegal to fire in a park for any reason except defense of one's life. I guess it's become well known that we permit holders conduct our weekly snake-shooting jamborees in state parks on Saturday mornings...

I know this came up when the carry in state parks law was passed, but this was so weird I had to post. Went to Cedars of Lebanon State Park today for a hike. Saw a sign as I drove into the park stating that firearms are prohibited. First thing, I stopped at the park's main office to investigate. There, I found the official park flier, which contains basic info for all visitors. It had a map of the park, phone numbers for park rangers and emergency services, and the 11 park rules. Rule number 4 was (drumroll) "No firearms allowed." I asked the kind older lady behind the desk in the visitor center about all the "no firearms" language and its applicability to HCP holders. I thought her reply was particularly rich: "We know people with permits can carry their handguns in the park, but we left the language alone because we're hoping they change the law back." Luckily, as a Tennessean, I was familiar enough with the law in the first place to know that I was good to carry in the park despite the sign and "park rule." However, I have serious doubts as to whether an out-of-stater with a carry permit that Tennessee recognizes would feel confident in the legality of carrying his handgun in one of our state parks. Kinda sad.

Maybe I'm completely wrong, but it seems to me a lot of the list in post #4 is carry-prohibited by federal law, meaning that it wouldn't make any difference is state law said it was okay. Airports? Elementary schools? High schools? Colleges and universities? Does that mean that if you get the MS "enhanced permit" you can carry legally in an airport?

Two things. First, in regard to the OC target/deterrent conversation... I think there is a point to be made about the greater ease of access to your weapon when you OC. Personally, I normally only carry concealed. But if I know I'm going into a situation where I won't have much time to draw (like at a gas pump where somebody can walk up behind the pump and be 3 feet away before I see him) I make sure there's nothing to slow down my draw or cause me to fumble. Same goes for in the car, in a tight hallway, etc. Second, as for reaction to an approaching beggar, my technique is similar to analog_kid. While taking a step or two back I say in a loud voice, "I don't want any trouble! Leave me alone! I don't have anything for you!" I used to have a martial arts instructor who advised shouting that kind of phrase (e.g. "Don't hurt me!") regardless of whether you're scared. He saw it as as a sort of escalation of force that 1. frightens and embarrasses a BG 2. gets people (every potential witness within earshot) to look at you, backing away from BG and apparently really scared of him 3. helps you prove to a jury that you faced a determined assailant who couldn't be deterred save by force.

@ the OP - First, you should probably visit a range and rent some .357 revolvers. See how you like the feel of them. Second, decide on what the largest revolver is that you'd consider "compact." You said you want more firepower. The power of the .357 cartridge increases - significantly - with barrel length. If what I've read is true, at six inches of barrel it is a viable deer harvester. Third, go check out the following website: http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/357mag.html . It's an easy to read chart that explains what I said about the cartridge being more powerful with a longer barrel. See what ballistic performance you want. Ruger has just put out a new 4.2" barreled SP101. Fourth, the price issue. I wholeheartedly endorse the Ruger wheelguns, but they go for around $550. The first revolver I bought and carried was a Taurus 605. It cost about $300, and did its job fine. I just prefer the over-engineered, brick sh!thouse feel of a Ruger. I carry a 2" SP101 and can tell you that the wheel is no hassle at all. Some guys are uncomfortable with a capacity of only 5 rounds. That's a valid concern. My stance on the matter is that A) I would only fire well aimed shots in self-defense, so I don't need a 15 or 20 round capacity in a carry gun; I don't go looking for trouble, so the odds of me being face with multiple lethal threats at the same time are slim and none; C) I really like the mechanical reliability and simplicity of revolvers; and D) If 5 rounds doesn't cut it, reloading is not the answer. You need to run away. Whatever you do, enjoy the process of finding what you want, and get something you really like.

In this order: Blood, Milk and Sky/White Zombie Everything Zen/Bush Somebody to Love/Jefferson Airplane The Adhan Rooster/Alice in Chains Shrine/Beats Antique WWIII/KMFDM Frontier Psychiatrist/The Avalanches Pop a Top (Again)/Jim Ed Brown N.W.O./Ministry Floater/Waldeck Pride/Saliva Walk/Pantera Bar/Sonia Leigh Them Bones/Alice in Chains This playlist is more than just theme-appropriate. I'm convinced it would actually increase my kill count in an epic zombattle. I don't just mean the songs would motivate me to kill more zombies; the music would actually inflict zombie casualties on its own.

I can't point you to a particular .44 mag because I've never owned one, but I've got a great little Ruger SP101 snub .357. It's the best handgun I've ever owned in terms of out of the box quality of the product. I don't think you can go wrong with a Ruger revolver.

Wow. After watching that video in the OP, I now not only have to get a new carry gun, but more importantly, I have to change my screen name. Thanks a lot, gregintenn.

Baron, thanks for taking the time to do the videos. The toolkit in the car was a nice touch and something I'll add to my own trunk gear.