ReeferMac

Precisely my predicament and what happened when I experienced hard-times myself. I have a B.A. in Graphic Design, and a 20-year career in the printing industry. I work(ed) with hi-tech computerized equipment automating the back-end of things, and now 'my job' pays $12.50/hr (employers are still expecting a degree and experience). I drive a produce truck for a Sysco-subsidiary b/c it pays $400/wk more than I can make w/ my 20-year career in the print-biz. Evolve, adapt, onward... sitting on my duff w/ a 'disability' or on food-stamps was never a permanent option (but I was one of those 99-week's on UI way back when). I worked w/ a paving company that helped me get my CDL, and I've been gainfully employed ever since. Not what I invested 25-years of my life in, but, I pay my bills and take care of my family. Frankly, I haven't made this kind of money in 15-years!

I agree w/ what your saying, but in case you've never seen... they use a special voucher, are only allowed certain products, the clerk hands them a receipt that they place into a plastic pouch to turn in to verify the products purchased were WIC/SNAP approved. They did this 3 times (as each voucher's good for about 25 bucks), and then bought the remaining products w/ a local Credit Union Bank card. - K

I hope I don't offend anyone but I have to rant... Was in line at the Kroger this afternoon and a pair of seriously overweight and heavily tatooed individuals were in front of me w/ their 2 darling kids. I couldn't help but notice all the sugary cereal they were buying w/ food stamps. Being a parent myself I wanted to suggest the "Cheerio's for your 2- and 3-year old might be better choices", I refrained. They bagged up their groceries and then paid for the final 3 items with their Bank-card. A 12-dollar box of Sushi, half-drunk Soda Pop, and a pack of gum. It took every ounce of civility I had not to say something. Folks, I've been there, we've all been down on our luck, but I'll be damned if I'm going to buy your kid's groceries while you take 'your money' and drop it on Pop and Sushi, fer crying out loud..... Send your husband (errrr. baby-daddy?) through the line separate so I don't have to watch you spit in my tax-paying face like that. Gawd! Thanks, I feel better. Rant-off. - Kevin

Got mine on Saturday, wore it to the range, got plenty of compliments! Thanks for the hard work.

PSA has a deal on them going right now. Remington 40 gr. boxes of 325 for $25, free shipping if you order 4 or more. - K

I hope you enjoy it. Kunstler has a way w/ language, and the chapters are pretty light. I found it easy to breeze through them looking forward to the next. The Witch of Hebron is kind of a second, takes place w/ the same characters shortly after. - K

If you haven't read James Howard Kunstler I'd recommend his books. I've read 2 of them through the inter-library loan here in TN (A World Made by hand and Witch of Hebron), and am currently working on the 3rd (but the title escapes me at the moment, uncommon journey or something...?) If you haven't read "The 4th Turning", by Strauss and Howe, I highly recommend it! Not only will the middle part put you to sleep, it's a really thought provoking book. I have a copy, could drop off to you if you like. And best wishes for a speedy recovery! - K

I've seen plenty of .22 at Cabela's in Bristol and Knifeworks in Sevierville in my journey's there. Not always at 7cents/round, they usually have more premium-brand rounds w/ someone's face on the box... but I've been able to get the 325 rd. Federal 40-gr. boxes w/ regularity.

Was at Knifeworks the other day and picked up a cheap $30 red-dot scope from China (Firefield I think was the brand?) I have to admit, for the close-range... it's adequate! Makes one wonder what the $500-dollar models have that's so special, frankly, but at least to get started, and not worry about it getting banged around, it's quite good. I took it out the other night for a couple boxes of ammo, and it worked just fine. I may not shoot competition with it, but it allows me to focus my savings on a nice piece of long-range glass right now instead (and I still can pew-pew out at the land!) - K

Ditto on Knifeworks. If you're visiting town, go to Bud's, b/c it's just like being a kid in a candy store w/ all the merchandise. If you're ready to purchase, or want cheap ammo, Knifeworks is the place to go.

Thanks ehull, I'll give those steps a try.

Well I ended up ordering the scope rings suggested w/ pic. rails on top. We'll see what's in next-week's paycheck to see about some glass! - K

Thanks guys, I do appreciate the replies! I did dry-practice 15-20 times before trying it w/ live ammunition, but that's what made me wonder if I was 'doing it right'. The blackhawk is similar to most other IWB holster's I've seen, leather plate, plastic cover molded into the shape of the gun... But like I was saying, it's the condition of the gun that creates the concern for me. It is striker fired and has no external safety. When inserting the gun into the holster (whether practicing or suiting up for carry), it's hot and loaded. While the trigger isn't especially sensitive, an errant piece of clothing, or something else, could catch and cause a discharge. I can't think of any way to get around it? I can't close the breech while in the holster? I placed my finger across the trigger guard (tip on the forward outside edge to protect that side of the trigger), but I was still very nervous. I just can't envision any way to load the gun into the holster in any other/safer condition? I could carry w/o one in the chamber, but that would reduce my capacity and cause me to have to rack a round upon drawing, using precious seconds... Thanks again for the input. - K

I recently purchased a Blackhawk IWB Holster for my S&W M&P 9 Compact. So far I'm pretty happy, as it appears to have solved my biggest problem w/ the OWB holster I previously carried with (gun 'flopping' away from my body, obvious bulge, have even bumped it up against people when passing by in tight quarters). However a new problem has cropped up.... putting it in the holster. I was practicing drawing from concealment w/ the new holster this morning. I would draw, fire 2 rounds, and return to holster to repeat. (Re)Inserting the gun into the holster when IWB is a bit precarious, and very nerve-wracking, in part due to the gun itself. There is no safety, and I carry it w/ a round in the chamber (so an unintentional discharge only takes a tap of the trigger, something that appears quite possible when putting the gun in there!). I pushed my butt 'out' when re-holstering so as not to hit myself if it did go off, but this problem exists whenever inserting the gun into the holster... So what's the safest way to (re) holster a gun IWB? - Kevin

Thanks Jim, may have to take you up on that! Thanks BigK, so the reflect mounts on-top of the Burris scope-mount?

I suppose a picture is worth 1000 words? I've looked at a couple reflex-sights at the LGS, they're slicker than goose-poop! but the magnification is pretty low, which is really the only reason I'm shying away from them.... The hand-guard on it now is just rounded, there are some vents cut into the metal, and a tapped hole on the bottom for a bi-pod (thread on that coming next pay check... LOL!) - K

I've thought about that... The folks at the Hi-Power Rifle club here at my local sportsman club do some great stuff w/ iron-sighted M1's, etc., so I don't doubt it's possible, and the Pic. Rail on the gun is very small, so I'm pretty much limited to only 1 option due to length of the rail. But that also makes iron-sights I think less effeective, as the front and rear sight will be close to each other mid-mounted on the gun (doesn't have means to attach a fore-sight, unless I drill something into the hand-guard, which I really don't want to do). RE: Dcoudy: I'm not sure... guess I want to be able to do all of those? I suppose my immediate concern would be the first two, but I'd have to practice the last one to be any good at the first two? Played around w/ a Redfield 3-9 power scope at the LGS today, not really impressed w/ the magnification ability, so I'm really not sure now (thought that was my answer). - K

It's not about civil religion, it's about a lack of respect and insulting generations of men and women that defended this country. Whether the premise is even justified is up for debate, regardless, get your a$$ off the bench and show some respect for the country that made your life even possible. As suggested, he wouldn't be educated enough to express his opinion if he wasn't raised in this nation. If you want to raise awareness about a particular topic, find some other way to do it. It's all grand-standing for continued victim-hood, which frankly, is the real root of the issue. - K

Send him back to Africa, and see if he learns what 'oppressed' means. Hope the scumbag gets shot, frankly. Preferably before he has a chance to pollute the gene pool.

Specifically asking with regards to my new AR build from Anderson Mfg., but the question is valid for just about any rifle.... I'm told this gun is good out to 400 yds (chambered for 5.56, 24" stainless steel barrel), but even if it's only half-that, what's a good optic solution for both close and long range? A scope good at 100 yds won't do much at 300, likewise, if it's powerful enough for 300 yds, won't it be useless at 50-100? Is there a 'sweet spot' for the adjustable types? 4-9 power w/ a 40-50mm aperture? Rifle has a small pic. rail at the top, but not really big enough for multiple optics, and I can't see using iron-sights, as there will be these big scope-rings in the way? Budget matters, lets say I want to keep it around $300. - Kevin

The fishing guide that didn't think he needed his .45 b/c he hadn't seen any sows in a while? I'd just read that too! Must have gotten it from the same referring page, LOL! Ditto on placement, IIRC it was the last round that dropped him. - K

LOL! I'm about 2 months into the same experience Mark. I've burned up 2 chains on the saw already, and barely made a dent! - K

Watts Bar is looking pretty muddy, and the boat traffic is definitely down. My kids caught a few catfish and some sunfish there and in the Clinch River recently, but I don't even get a line in the water anymore (always baiting hooks, pulling snags, etc.) - K

Ah-hah, good to know. Yes, I have been trying my hand at re-loading 9mm pistol rounds, and was finding my coconut being challenged by these rifle rounds!

THANKS! That's what's missing from the 20-or-so articles about the differences that I've read.