ReeferMac

  You've got Mail!   - K  

Was looking at some IWB holster's at the LGS today w/ my gun for test fitting (S&W M&P 9 Compact). They had a nice Desantis leather one I tried on that was comfortable and would work for me (position wise), but was sized for Glocks, and was very-snug on mine. Store rep suggested that w/ some leather Conditioner and time + TLC, that would fit my pistol like a glove. Do the leather holster's really break in that much, or would I be better off getting a synthetic one specifically designed for my make/model? FWIW I am planning to carry in the small of back, 6 O'Clock position. Thanks.   - K  

I've put about 100 rounds through the wifey's LC9s, very nice little gun, slick feel to it.   - K

  LOL! I dunno, the HP turned that thing into mashed potatoes! Sucker flew apart into about a million pieces, was pretty funny. Wifey wasn't too happy.... those were thanksgiving taters! Last time she'll send me to Aldi's when I go to the range!   - K  

1-Round each of 9 mm struck each target from 20-yds. Any questions? LOL! - K

  Yeah, that salty old bastard's part of the reason I say that, LOL!   - K  

Interesting discussion guys! Currently looking at the Remington 700 or Ruger American w/ Redfield scope for a .308 bolt-action. People keep telling me to look at Savage, though, I have to admit... my curiosity is piqued!   - K

How is the kick on the Bodyguard? My wife was leaning towards .380, and that was the model I was looking at. She ended up going w/ the Ruger LC9s, instead, but for pocket-carry, it was that or the little'r ruger. Guys at the gun store steered her back towards the bigger 9 w/ concerns about the recoil in such a small package, but I really liked those pocket-guns!   The folks at Luckygunner.com did a huge test of a variety of Ammo, including multiple .380 Hollow rounds in ballistics gel. Very thorough IMO, check it out and decide for yourself. IIRC, the Hydra Shok from Federal did well in all caliber's, including .380 (good expansion, penetrated 12-18 inches on every round).   - K  

Where do you like to get your bulk ammo from? I'm shopping for a big bag of 'new' 9mm for practice (preferably 124-147 grain). I say 'new' b/c I plan on buying reloading equipment and will be saving all my brass, so don't want someone else's reloaded rounds (can only re-use them so-many times).   CaliberUSA.com has some "Orca" brand bulk 9 for $129/500 (about 29-cents a pop), but I've never heard of them, and google turned up a few bad reviews (bad customer service, poor shipping, etc.).   Has anyone had troubles mail ordering bulk delivered to their home? UPS man look at you funny? FBI come knocking the following week? :lol:   Thanks!   - K |

Hey Josh (Great last name, I share it!) I was looking at a few of the 'fancier' model pistols out there, but figured for the first one I'd just go straight w/ the factory configuration. In 3-months I'll be asking about Fiber Optic sights, then lasers... THEN, a trigger, LOL! No, I agree, the Ruger's smooth as glass, really finely manufactured piece. I really notice a difference between the wife's pistol and my M&P (but her's won't hold 17!) I would have liked to have tried the larger one's (like the 9E, etc.), but wanted something more compact than a full-size model to aid concealment. I like being able to carry the M&P Compact w/ the 12-round clip, but bring the 17-round as a backup. So far I'm pretty happy.   .... and I got to go to Orientation at the Oak Ridge Sportsman's Association last night, so now it's off to the Bulk-Ammo shops, and put some rounds through these suckers! LOL!

  Thanks Jeb! We're from the apple-farms on the OTHER side of Roch-cha-cha (Hilton!), LOL! Still stuck w/ the house, hired a new realtor a couple weeks ago, hopefully this guy does better. Was REALLY hoping we could have sold it by now, so we could close out our bank accounts, etc., and file that final tax-return.... Bit of a long-shot at this point, but frankly, I just hope we don't have to HEAT the place until March!    - K  

Well it took a while to get around to it (work finally found me...) but this last week we got the missus a Ruger LC9s, and today I picked up the S&W M&P 9 Compact, and got the full size mag w/ cover, so can hold 17! :D   Thanks for all the help w/ everything!   So, now I have to go to Walmart w/ my piece or something, right? LOL!   Where's a good place to get bulk 9mm for practice? Should I start a new thread so everyone can argue about the best carry ammo? I think I'm going to have to review that LuckyGunner test again!   - K  

I have to admit, I have had nothing but good experiences at frontier firearms on Gallaher Road in Kingston? I've dealt w/ 2 of their staff members extensively and the VP taught my HCP class. They've been stand-up people in my experience. I'm sorry to hear you've had troubles there.   - K

  Agreed...   We're going to the range/store tomorrow and hoping to connect w/ one of the staff there. He was very patient and understanding with us, and my wife in particular. Really made us feel at ease, and seemed very knowledgeable.Can't say enough about Frontier Firearms in Kingston. I mentioned specifically concerns I had about caliber effectiveness, and reports coming from military staff overseas, and he said he was one of those guy's complaining about 9mm side-arm's not working against Hajji's... Get Hollowpoints, you'll be fine. I think the gel-tests from Luckygunner back that up, there were a few brands that reliably penetrated 18" and left an ugly hole...   Back to the original statement, my wife feel's OK carrying a .380, the 9mm scares her at the range. I'm going to get her a 380 she feels OK with, and train her to hit the target and have a very fast and twitchy finger! :D You keep going until it stops, honey!! And here's how you reload!   She did better than me on the HCP test, very tight grouping! Yes, believe me, after 15-years, I KNOW not to mess w/ her!   - K  

  Originally from the WNY area, our 'old home' is outside Rochester in Hilton, NY.   Local store/range is open 1-5 tomorrow... Wifey wants me to take her shopping! :woohoo:   - K http://postimg.org/image/4uraanabl/

Thanks for sharing MrsMonkeyMan! My wife and I recently completed our HCP class, and she is catching up submitting her paperwork. Next-step is finding the right piece and a way for her to conveniently carry. What is your preferred method when out and about? Do you find the 10mm Glock to be difficult to shoot? My wife found the 9mm too much for her, but was OK w/ the .380 (despite some cycling issue's w/ her grip). Thanks for sharing your thoughts.   - Kevin

  LOL! I hear ya. Have to go back there in 2-weeks to winterize the old house. Dang thing still hasn't sold...   - K  

Thanks for the great advice! Now THAT's Dolomite!   - K  

Thanks for all the great advice guys, appreciate it! Was talking w/ the missus last night (I'm ready to buy... mine at least, LOL!) She was sick the day we went to the range, and felt that may have affected her preference. Wants to go again, try the 9 and .380 again (G42 and G43 avail at rental range, however the M&P they have is a 40, not a 9, so.... Still, I like the way the M&P feels dry-firing). She was having mis-feed problems w/ the Glock(s), both sizes, store-staff diagnosed it to her wrists not holding steady enough, the recoil was being absorbed by her hands, slide wouldn't cycle properly. I'm fairly certain she won't decide on a 9mm... that being said, I would LIKE to keep things common, and admit, the .380 Glock was a something I could fire all day long, but am leaning towards a 9 for me for a host of reasons. I would however like to have very similar guns.. so the mechanics are the same for both of us (Safety's, clip-release, etc.). Frankly, I wish I liked the Glock's more, as that would be a no-brainer, I'm just not a fan of the one's I've tried. I liked the Springfield XD better.   Thanks for the greetings Moped! Not Rude at all... but if you want to make it up to me, I should have membership papers @ Oak Ridge Sportsman's club soon (they cashed my check....), you can meet me there and let my wife and I try out your wares! LOL! ;)   Thanks Jonin, understand what you mean about physics, that's my problem w/ the smaller guns, as I have these big ham-hands that just swallow them up, I need more 'grip' to grip, else I don't feel comfortable. I think that'll be a problem w/ any of the pocket-carry's, they all feel the same to me?   I'm trying to stick w/ a US manuf. too, so I may just get one of the small Ruger's or that Bodyguard 380.... She liked the blue-cammo ruger better than the pink one anyways, worst-case. if it doesn't work for her, I keep that for a pocket-carry, and get a 9 for regular use. The way she's been talking, I don't think I'd get yelled at if I came home w/a box from Frontier Firearms.   Ain't she a gem?!   :D   - K  

  Thanks Jonin, yes, I'm very hesitant to 'pull the trigger' and buy anything. So far I am noticing various qualities to different guns that I like, and the local store's staff here is pretty good (I liked the trigger on the Ruger, but the LCP felt too small... Here, try this Springfield!) Frankly, I haven't found one I really like just yet.   There's quite a few competing demands I'm trying to balance out... and maybe I'm placing importance on factors that I shouldn't be?   My wife and I are both going to acquire personal carry pieces, and I'm trying to keep them from the same manuf.... thinking ease of parts/tools, cleaning, accessories, etc., will be improved (*but by all means, correct me if that assumption is false*) It's not a given, I may go w/ a Springfield 9 while she gets a Ruger .380... but I like the M&P line also, and the Bodyguard model would fit her needs... and I do like the single-stack M&P Compact? :lol: I liked the Springfields I've tried, but she said she doesn't like the 9's, too much for her.   I want(ed) to stay in the same caliber as my wife, so that we can buy bulk, reload, etc., cheaper and more easily. Again, please correct me if that assumption is off target. That being said, I agree w/ the above statement about a common police/military caliber (Jonin, you were in on that rifle discussion...), and may decide to carry a 9 for myself. I doubt I'll explore the larger sizes, 9's got more than enough BANG for me.   IMO - and I raise my hand and admit I'm a newbie here - I think quality ammo in .380 is capable of ruining some perp's day, and I can play w/ it all day long at the range. I can find a variety of small guns that conceal easily and are quality instruments that will go bang when someone pulls the trigger. I've been able to narrow things down fairly well, and am trying to find sample guns to try (even dry-firing @ the showroom tells you a lot - especially the trigger!). I was kinda disappointed a week ago, talking w/ another fellow who was @ the range trying out his brandy-new LCP, mentioned my wife was thinking of buying one but wanted to try it first (pointed, mentioned that she was in the next stall over w/ the Glock42). He said he wasn't very pleased w/ it, but it was his first time out, packed up his stuff, and walked away... D'oh! Was hoping he'd offer my wife a few rounds, dang! Is it rude to come right out and ask "Hey, can I take a few shots w/ your gun?", I don't know proper range etiquette? Is that like asking to dance w/ someone's wife? :lol:   Waiting for membership papers from the local outdoor's man's club. Hoping if I spend some time prowling the pistol range, I'll get to try a few other makes and models, and can make a more informed decision. Wifey's itching to get something, anything... but she understands a 400-dollar mistake isn't in our best interest right now. So far the Ruger is the only one she's really liked, but we haven't fired it (not avail. for rent, only 6 rnds of try-before-buy), but I think the .380 Bodyguard from S&W would appeal to her too (also avail try-before-buy), and then I would be looking at the M&P line for my own, likely the compact-9. However I'm not going to force myself into a particular pistol if I don't like it... I'm a lot more flexible than she is, so trying to accommodate her needs first.   'Course the way things have been going, SHE'LL be the one itching for a 'collection'. Gawd, I'm so glad I married her sometimes!   - K  

  LOL! Thank you Sir. Once we decided to pack up and move south, I was able to narrow things down quickly, and there were 2 candidates that stood out, both happened to start with a "T"... But one had too many illegals for my taste! :lol:   - K  

  Thanks guys, I actually didn't know the finer points to handgun laws here in TN until I took the class! LOL! That being said, having come from the nanny-state NY, where I was also planning on getting my permit for the same reasons, it's as much about exercising my rights (while I still can!) as anything else. I do not like the way the world's turning these days (one of the things that prompted the move to TN), and can think of more than a few times when I wish I had been carrying, and since the wife is behind the decision for the same reasons... We'll do it all by the book, and that way they can't take 'em away from me! I'd like to get some more training on things, especially for the missus, but it's good all around regardless. There's quite a bit about threat mitigation and situational awareness that I've learned just by reading, but my wife's not wired that way. I think a few tactics and training classes will go a long way.   The Oak Ridge Sportsman's club cashed my check this week, so hopefully I'll have membership information on that soon, and can take the shotgun out again! They've got pistol-ranges as well, so I figured it would be a good investment!   LOL!, Was just re-reading the quote above, most of you probably don't realize, but you can't even buy handgun ammunition in NY, unless you have that caliber pistol listed on your permit... So if a friend wanted you to pick up a box of something-something for his gun you were going to try out when you met him at the range, the store couldn't sell it to you! He would have to be present w/ his permit showing that gun on his permit.   That's no Bull... It's F'ing crazy up there.   - K  

  That's what she said!!! LOL!   Actually, looking at the expansion and depth on the charts, I'm not at all put off by the .380's as some folks seem to suggest. There were a couple brands of ammo that fared well enough for the FBI's book (12-18" or more), and having shot the 9's and .380's side-by-side (fine folks @ Frontier Firearms let my wife and I test the G42 and G43 on the range at the same time)... I could play w/ .380's all day long and not get sore.   While there may be a few mm's difference in overall area of the wound channel... as you say, you get popped w/ one or two of those, you're going to have a bad day! :lol: It may not push you back, or cause someone to instantly drop to the ground, but I believe it will achieve the goal of causing sufficient damage to the hydraulics to make further motion challenging at best!   It's been well established that shot placement is by far more critical than size of the puck (a .22 in the coconut will drop a horse!) So if I (or my wife) can spend more time practicing w/ the .380 and achieve better shot placement than w/ the larger 9 (let's not even get into +P, et. al.), I'd rather put a smaller, less expansive and penetrating round right in the sweet-spot, than blast away w/ a monster hoping I make contact with my target. If nothing else, my odd's of a follow-up shot are dramatically improved. I was able to empty that G42 pretty quickly... The 9 took a moment to re-acquire the target.   I'll leave the hand cannon's to those that feel the need to prove something to the other guy's at the range, I just want to survive the encounter!   That's something I really think gets lost in all these discussions. While penetration statistics are great, ask yourself what's the reason you're carrying? To look Badass (do you hold it sideways one-handed, too?) Sound cool w/ a thunderous clap every time your booger-hook pulls the bang-switch? Sure, they're great fun at the range, but... ballistics gel doesn't matter if your round lands in the dirt-pile or backstop.   Personally I'm worried about the criminals and wingnuts prowling everywhere these days. Merely displaying personal protection will run them off 99 times out of 100, unless they're on something, at which point, I believe based on what I've seen here, a single .380 in the bread-basket will give me enough of an advantage in the encounter to tip the odd's in my favor. Ditto for my wife!!! I don't understand why so many people downplay the effectiveness of this personal-protection round. You get that hole in your body... That's a bad day! :LOL:   - K

I got my card in the mail today! Gawd, I think it was 10-12 days after I filled out the forms? Would have taken 9-12 months in NY, and I might not have even gotten it! Crazy... Wifey's all over this, she wants a compact .380, I think I'd prefer a 9 for-carry, and she wants to get a little .22 so the kids can come to the range w/ us, WTF! :love:   I was looking at the Walther's, as they have a range of .380's and 9mm to pick from, are reputable, quality manuf., etc., however I don't know of any ranges/store's around here that have 'em to rent? The one by me offers a try-before-you-buy, but it's only a few rounds, and frankly, I'd want to just go down-the-line and try half their inventory, LOL! I Don't even know if they have any Walthers? I'm starting to see why owning a 'collection' of handgun's is essential! Try someone's piece out on the range one day and you've just got to go get one!    I 'spose that's how swinger's get started?   I like the Bodyguard .380 S&W makes, that's a slick looking gun, and I can try out the M&P regular-size at my local store's range.. their compact-for-carry looks nice. But man, the Ruger's are pretty slick, too, damn. :wall:   I'm not going to be able to pick just one, I know it... Now I'm going to need a gun safe, too!   - K  

My pleasure folks. This board has been a great source of info, I'm glad to be able to return the favor! Maybe throw the link up in that sticky-post on top about caliber efficiency?   I thought the fabric-supplement was a good idea, and pretty 'thick' (but would rather err on the long-side...). The Federal Hydra-shok's seemed to do pretty good in all sizes? Wifey doesn't like the 9's we've tried, too much BANG, and I'm hesitant to get a .380 myself... but that crown looks pretty nasty, I imagine it'll do the job!   - K