Whisper

Getting rid of Carl is a good thing for the show, although I was skeptical they would do it, so it's a plus that the producers were willing to be a little imaginative. They have some interesting things to explain about the "old man Rick" flash-forward from the first episode this season, which implied that Carl is alive. I'm still annoyed by the lazy writing and bargain-basement special effects. How did Carol know to drive to the Sanctuary and rescue Rick when he and the trash people starting taking fire and the trash people cut and ran? Why are all long guns (except Morgan's Remington 700 with the crookedly mounted scope) now full auto? And how did they obtain the limitless supply of ammo they now have? I guess there's still a slim chance the show could become great again, but history is against it -- once shows begin to slide in quality, they are almost always doomed. The slide here is unmistakable. Like Oh Shoot, I'm mainly watching now just to see where the story goes; not because the show is compelling or exciting any more. Cheers, Whisper

That Tac14 DM is not going to handle very well. Weight distribution will be significantly different from that of the original Tac14. And that magazine, sticking out of the bottom of what was previously a slim and handy heater, will want to catch on something. At least those are my thoughts on a gun I've not handled yet.... Whisper

"Ask and it shall be given you;" you've put the request out there now, Bersa, and He already has the dog en route. Let us know when it arrives. Another dog lover, Whis

The last two episodes have greatly annoyed me with the cheap gunfire special effects -- muzzle flashes are obviously CGI, bolts and cocking handles don't reciprocate when guns are fired, magazines are apparently bottomless, and brass is seldom ejected (although the M2 .50 did leave some brass behind). When Carol was having her battle with the Saviors who were trying to load the M2 into their vehicle, she had a full-auto battle with them, and sometimes her M4 had the rear sight folded up, and sometimes down. In one scene an orange chamber flag was briefly visible in a gun. Moving on, let's talk about Rick's pursuit of the Saviors with the M2: Apparently after the zombie apocalypse, .50 caliber rounds make sparks as they bounce off a Jeep Wrangler grille, instead of zipping through the entire vehicle like a knife in hot butter. I'm probably giving up on the show at this point.

Which is what I said. No one is talking about this as an ethical issue. It's not a valid comparison of scenarios to you, but I'd bet that for people who want an end to private gun ownership, it's a perfectly valid comparison: "Persons or businesses owning guns should take 'reasonable precautions' to prevent guns from being stolen, and there should be new regulations to force them to do so." Agreed -- and this is precisely the point that gun banners will focus on when guns are stolen from any source. They won't draw a distinction between guns being stolen from businesses or guns being stolen from a private home. "These evil guns are being stolen because of carelessness! We need more laws! Punish all careless gun owners! Do it for the chiiiiiiiildren!" Exactly right. We agree on this. The antis will want to focus on all guns, whether they are owned by businesses or individuals. But you have already said that you agree greater regulation of businesses is a fine idea -- i.e., you agree with the antis on this principle, just not in the application of the principle to individuals. My disagreement with you is that I don't accept the principle that we need more laws regulating gun storage in businesses, and if we accept that principle, we're supporting an argument that will be turned on individual gun owners immediately afterward. Whisper

Ah, yes, "responsible precautions." The favorite vague argument of Charles Schumer and Dianne Feinstein and other would-be tyrants who think they know best how others should run their lives and businesses. These businesses all have insurance, and I would let their insurance companies decide what theft prevention steps the businesses should take to qualify for policies. Risk assessment and evaluation is what insurance companies do best. Assuming that you have guns, let me ask this: How comfortable would you be with someone else deciding how many locks and safes and alarms you should have at your house to qualify as a responsible gun owner? Whisper

This is the same argument that leftist authoritarians use for banning firearms: "There should more laws to make these people do what I want them to do." Are you sure this is the kind of legal philosophy you want to advocate? Whisper

60 acres for $300,000 in a place where there are decent jobs isn't going to be easy unless you are willing to commute a long way to the job. Sorry, Whisper

Not any more. There were several teams with losing records that played last year.

Rumors on some of TWD fan sites are that the junk people will turn traitor again and rejoin Team Rick. I noticed that Pollyanna Mackintosh, who plays the leader of the junk people, was listed in the credits of Sunday's episode but didn't actually appear. I personally think Rick should put a 158-gr JHP in her forehead...but he better be standing close, to improve his chances of not missing. Cheers, Whisper

Sorry to read this, but I am happy for the part of your life you got to spend with her. Whisper

He did a fine job. I'd use him again if I had a Smith that needed any service. Cheers, Whisper

My thoughts exactly; "It's a 30 yard shot and Negan's standing on an elevated platform, why are you not filling him with holes already?" I guess the answer was that Rick wanted to give Negan's acolytes the chance to surrender. However, I think they'd have been more apt to surrender if Negan had started talking and immediately caught five rounds in the chest from Rick's MP5. Also -- lots of ammo expended during this episode. Is ammo not a problem any more? Maybe Target Sports USA has reopened. Cheers, Whisper

Advocates of the police state know that they must couch their proposals in reasonable terms, until enough of those proposals have been implemented. They they don't put forth proposals; they issue edicts. Probably everyone here already knows this. Be alert, Whisper

OK, it hadn't occurred to me to try to attach the PDF of the B-27 center to a post. I've tried to do that here. Someone please let me know if you can download it, Enjoy, Whisper B27_red_center.pdf

For anyone who would like to try shooting Rastoff's Challenge yourself -- don't spend money buying B-27 centers. I have a PDF that can be printed on 8.5x11 paper. Send me a private message with your email address and I'll send you the PDF. Be prepared to be made humble. This is a hard test. Cheers, Whisper

This weekend with the VP9. In case you want to try this event yourself, it's called Rastoff's Challenge, and it comes from a shooting instructor who hangs out at the S&W Forum. It's a 20-round exercise fired on a B-27 center. 4 shots at 3 yards 6 shots at 5 yards 6 shots at 7 yards 4 shots at 10 yards No time limit; take as much time as you want between shots, and for the entire string of 20 rounds. All shots must be inside the X-ring, i.e., no breaking the line. You must shoot the test cold (no warmups) and no more than once per day. It's not easy. I have probably shot it 20 times this year and this is my first passing score. Have fun, Whisper

You may need to be willing to make some compromises. Talk to some sheriff's deputies if you believe there is such a thing as a crime-free rural area. There are certainly some that are better than others, but "crime-free" doesn't exist any more. There are meth labs in Amish country now. Good luck, Whisper

Nobody should have to sell his favorite handgun to take care of a devoted dog's final expenses. Bersaguy, please send me a PM with your mailing address so I can made a modest contribution to help out a fellow gun owner and dog lover. You would be doing me a favor by allowing me to acknowledge the relationship between you and Kasey. Love is too scarce in this world today; we should all appreciate it whenever we see it. Cheers, Whisper

If you don't want to use a gas tube mount, try this top cover: https://www.texasweaponsystems.com/ My MAK-90 wears one and it has done well so far (I admit I don't use it as much as I do ARs). Hope this helps, Whisper

Leaked -- well, no. Releasing these photos was a carefully thought out decision.

Mighty nice. It's always fun to realize a childhood dream. Thanks for sharing this story. There's something special about a good single action. I have a Ruger .44 Special that shoots like a laser and that I will keep as long as I live. Cheers, Whisper

As someone who is pro-freedom on just about everything, I'll just say that I believe the players have the right to express their opinions, including sitting or kneeling during the national anthem. The team owners also have the right to fire their employees if they violate orders not to sit or kneel during the national anthem. Everybody has the right not to patronize NFL games or any other form of entertainment if they find the entertainment or the performers offensive for whatever reason. However, all of those listed might want to bear in mind that their opinions don't limit the rights of others, and that their actions may produce reactions from others. If you sit during the anthem, as is your right, the team owner may bench you or fire you, as is his/her right. Whatever actions the team owners take or don't take may produce positive or negative responses from prospective ticket purchasers, who have the right to spend their money as they see fit. Respect the rights of others the same way you want them to respect yours, and whine less. It's a good guideline for most situations. My opinion, and worth every cent you paid for it. Cheers, Whisper

12 gauge is probably best. Get a used single-shot Savage or something like that; they're cheap and will last you forever. I still have the one my father gave me in 1964. Many if not most of them came with a full choke, which is what you want for turkeys. Cheers, Whisper

So, this afternoon I am headed back to the house from church, and I stop to get gas at a convenience store. I fill the tank at the pumps, and decide to get a drink inside the store. As I'm walking to the store, I pass a guy at another pump filling his car with gas, but he's smoking a cigarette. I think to myself that this seems awfully unwise, but I don't say anything to the guy. Just as I am getting to the door of the store, a couple of cops come out carrying jumbo-sized coffees, and at that moment I hear screaming behind me. I turn around, and the guy who was smoking the cigarette is now jumping around and hollering, with his arm covered in flames. Quick as a flash, the two cops run to the guy, grab him, and push him down to the ground. Both of them dump their jumbo coffees on his arm, they roll him around on the ground, and they extinguish the flames. In a little while the burned guy is calmed down, and the cops get him to his feet. To my surprise, they put handcuffs on him, and escort him to their cruiser parked in front of the convenience store. As they're putting him in the back seat, I ask one of the cops, "Why are you arresting him?" The cop looks at me and says... Wait for it... "He was waving a fire arm." Thank you, thank you, I'm here all week. I stole this one from a friend of mine, so you're welcome to steal it yourself, Cheers, Whisper