JAB

Just FYI, having priced the same items at the Lenoir City Walmart, the Madisonville Walmart and the Rockwood Walmart, I can tell you that Rockwood - for whatever reason - is consistently more expensive. For instance, there was a particular knife I was looking at and it was three dollars more expensive at Rockwood than at the two previously mentioned stores.

If a zombie bites Chuck Norris the zombie will turn into Chuck Norris. Since my wife and I separated and I can't get cable where I now live (don't want dish - my sister, who lives next door, had it and it sucked out there - plus I think you have to take one of the higher tier packages to get AMC on dish but I could be wrong) I have missed the second half of the second season. There is no good option for high speed internet out there, either (yeah, I live in the boonies - but I CAN shoot in my back yard), so no joy on finding the episodes online. The last episode I saw was the one where Daryl was looking for Sophia and had to pull the crossbow bolt out of his own side to shoot a Walker. I actually come into this thread to keep up with what is going on with the show (including the 'spoilers') until it comes out on DVD. Personally, I can't wait to get to see Shane get iced - twice!

In my case, if I refer to the accuracy of a particular handgun I am generally referring to shooting while standing with no rest and from self defense distances (generally ten yards or so.) I am also, generally, talking about usable accuracy in my hands. I don't do much shooting from a rest and, honestly, having not practiced doing so I find a rest, etc. often gets in my way and screws me up more than it helps. In fact, the same often holds true if I am shooting a long gun, as well. Not that I am some super-shooter with any kind of amazing accuracy - I simply don't have much experience shooting from a rest and so don't utilize that particular tool (a rest) very well. Of course, in my case and my way of thinking (which doesn't apply to anyone else), I figure I won't have a rest in my pocket if attacked or when hunting so what I can do when shooting from a rest really doesn't matter much, to me. I do see the reasoning behind using a rest to find out what the actual, inherent accuracy of a particular firearm is like. That said, I figure that if I can get decent hits on a target shooting off-hand that probably means the gun is at least more accurate than I am (which isn't really saying all that much) and if I manage to get a fairly tight grouping then the gun, itself, must be darned accurate.

A J-Frame makes a great carry gun. I carry my 642 with Winchester PDX1 +P (I believe it to be good SD ammo and it is easy for me to find) but wouldn't turn down carrying Speer Gold Dot. Right now, the 642 is the gun in my carry rotation that gets carried the most often. Some folks feel that five rounds isn't 'enough' but for my lifestyle, threat level, places I frequent, etc. I think it is enough. If wearing jeans, I generally carry a reload in a speed strip. If I am going to a place where I am concerned that the threat level, etc. might be a little higher than normal (or, sometimes, just because I am in the 'mood' to do so) I may carry a semiauto with a higher capacity, instead, but usually the J frame gets the nod.

I am diabetic of the non insulin dependent variety. As such, while it doesn't happen often, there are times when my blood sugar simply bottoms out without warning. If that happens, I can get dizzy, nauseus and so on. It is nice to be able to have a couple of small packs of trail mix, peanut butter and crackers or something similar close at hand, just in case. I am pretty warm natured so often don't need a jacket, overshirt, etc. but sometimes it is nice to have something like that handy in case I find myself in need of one. Depending on the season, I might put something lightweight in the bag. I have a small, pocket flashlight (an Inova) which I like a lot but would like to be able to carry something a little larger/more substantial (say a small mag light) that would not fit in my pocket or on my belt. I also carry a Swiss Army knife but it would be nice to have a larger multi-tool with more functions close at hand - which is something I don't carry in a pocket or on my belt on a daily basis. There are also things I would like to have with me, sometimes - basic first aid supplies, etc. - that I currently don't carry because they are too bulky. If I had an EDC bag, I would have some such supplies in it. There are other things I don't currently carry but that I would probably stash in such a bag if I were going to be carrying it, anyway - basic stuff like fishing line/sinkers/float/lures, a couple of fire sources, emergency blanket and the like. Not because I necessarily think I will need them but more as a matter of, "Why not? I'd have them if I did need them." Such a bag might not get carried every, single day but it would be nice to have certain things that won't fit in my pockets together in a bag small enough that I can carry it daily if I want or simply leave it in my vehicle. It would be something smaller and less extensive than a true 'get home' bag but would offer more options than I can (or want to) carry in my pockets.

Some years back, there was a pretty cool video game called 'Full Throttle.' In many ways, it still stands as one of my favorite games of all time. Anyhow, a band called The Gone Jackals did the soundtrack and there was one song on there, done in kind of a 'honky-tonk on acid' style that I think would be right at home on a zombie killing soundtrack. Chitlins Whiskey And Skirt (a.k.a The Apocalypse) The population is greatly decreased. And now the odds are greatly increased. That I may someday get a chance, To kiss your lips. I thank the lo-o-ord each day, For the apocalypse. Folks are mostly disfigured or dead But, sugar, I wont let it go to my head. My mama's face has dripped down into the dirt. But I'm still chasin' chitlins, whiskey and skirt.

Well, I went to the Expo show last Saturday afternoon. My mom went with me. About halfway through our walkthrough, we both had the same thought, "You would have thought these folks would have brought something they actually wanted to sell." To me, prices seemed even more ridiculous than usual. Also, one of the reasons I went was to pick up a spare mag for an FEG smc-380 and the guy who has all sorts of hard to find pistol mags either wasn't there or I somehow overlooked his table (I was looking pretty diligently for him so my thought is he wasn't there.) Another reason I went was to look for a reasonably priced EDC bag but none of the vendors selling such things had anything like what I want. Foolish me, I was also hoping I might find a deal on a .357 Mag Blackhawk. Hnnh...the best price I saw, on one with a good bit of finish wear, was $120 higher than a LNIB used one my LGS had in the case a few weeks back. I was also hoping to find a Rossi .357 lever gun but no joy. There were plenty of (useless, IMO) Ranch Hands at various tables - for $100 more than one would cost in most any LGS - but no Rossi .357 lever rifles. All in all, I should have saved my ten bucks. Thing is, I'm sure I will forget what a waste these shows are and go to another one in a few months. I guess I won't ever learn my lesson.

A year or two ago I picked up an older (six shot) Taurus Model 66. I really like it. I trust it enough that it is my bedside gun as well as being on my hip a lot when I am at home. It also goes camping/trout fishing with me loaded up with Buffalo Bore 180 grain hardcast in case a black bear decides to get too (un)friendly.

I actually like going to the 'Great American' shows better than the RK shows on ONE condition. That condition is that one, particular dealer shows up. This dealer apparently has a brick and mortar store but brings stuff to the shows that he doesn't want to stock in his stores. Generally, that means 'beater' or 'shooter' guns at fair 'beater' or 'shooter' gun prices. I like beater and shooter guns and I like fair prices so I like going to the 'Great American' shows when he attends them. When he doesn't, they are pretty much a waste of time (but then I think the RK shows are generally a waste of time, too, unless I am looking for a hard to find magazine or something specific like that.) This dealer told me that he used to go to the RK shows, sometimes, but decided he doesn't want to fool with them, anymore. I have never seen anything approaching what he sells at RK shows. At various times and different shows, I have bought all of the following guns from him - all for less than $100 each (well, before tax and TICS, anyhow): H&R 930 9 shot .22LR revolver After a little Flitz and some elbow grease: An old Stevens single shot 20 gauge and a Sears bolt action 20 gauge (two round internal mag.) The bolt gun has an 'accu-choke' which seems to actually work, at least to some extent. And a Winchester 190: The only one that needed anything was the Winchester 190. The spring in the inner mag tube assembly had gotten weak/sprung so it wouldn't load the last round in the mag. Ordered a new inner mag tube assembly from Numrich and it works great, now.

That holster looks great! I've done a few 'DIY' leather holsters, myself, and enjoy it. Feels good to carry in a holster you made, yourself, for a fraction of what buying one would cost.

Yeah. I've never been to Hawaii but I've been to other 'tropical' locales. After about a week, sand, sun and surf starts being my idea of what the first, second or maybe even third ring of Hell would look like. In fact, I have been to Hell and, unbeknownst to some, it is actually on Grand Cayman Island, in the Bahamas. http://en.wikipedia....l,_Grand_Cayman

If I could only have one handgun it would be a .357 Magnum revolver with a four inch barrel. Currently, for me, that would mean my older model (six shot) Taurus 66. To my mind, as it can be loaded with anything from low-end .38 Special to heavy hardcast .357 loads, it is the most versatile handgun/caliber combination. That would also mean that, in an environment where it sounds like private firearms ownership is restricted (meaning there may not be access to a wide range of ammo types, etc.) I wouldn't have to worry too much about finding ammo my gun 'likes' as far as functionality, which can be an issue with some semiautos. For HD, my thought is that if six from a .357 won't get the job done then chances are I ain't getting the job done with any handgun. In fact, I believe that so strongly that the .357 is my bedside gun despite having other choices, including semiautos.

I agree. Also, I didn't mean my post to be a criticism of the OP. I think I was simply putting myself in the situation and thinking that such possibilities are why I tend to prefer at least 'casually concealed' carry (doesn't mean everyone should.) I like to think that I generally maintain pretty good situational awareness but know myself well enough to realize that I sometimes get distra...oooh, look at the birdie!

No, he's attempting to help empower other, potential victims. And people who drive cars are more likely to be involved in car wrecks. I wouldn't be surprised if that 'study' included people who carry guns and use them for things like armed robbery, etc. Of course those folks are going to be at an 'increased risk'. I wonder if it includes LEO, as well - being that their jobs would likely increase their risk. That statistic just sounds suspect, to me, and I would have trouble believing that a law abiding, private citizen who legally carries increases his or her risk of being shot by that great a factor.

Dolomite, what method would you use for storing spices? It has been my experience that prepared (ground) spices begin to lose potency after about six months, get fairly weak after a year and not too long after that pretty much turn into flavorless dirt. Whole spices seem to last longer but can be a pain to grind/prepare. That is actually the reason I avoid buying most spices in bulk - even though I like to use varied spices - and sometimes lots of them - in my cooking, I still often find the spices get weak or even go 'dead' before I can use them all. I do like buying spices at the 'General Store' located in the Menonite settlement at Muddy Pond. They come in plastic bowls/tubs/whatever you want to call them with plastic lids, cost less and seem to 'last' longer than spices from the grocery store. I make a few, custom spice blends and rubs from recipes of my own devising so I like to take a trip to Muddy Pond two or three times a year in order to pick up some spices. There are also some folks up there who make some really good sorghum (sold as Muddy Pond Sorghum - I have even seen it in the Earth Fare in Knoxville, on occasion.) I also like buying spices at Mexican groceries. They tend to come in celophane packages and, again, seem to be more flavorful, last longer and are cheaper than spices from 'regular' grocery stores. Neither the Muddy Pond nor the Mexican grocery option are sold in what I would really call 'bulk', however.

Reg, what kind of baseplate is that on your mag in the pic?

No, I am saying that there is no way of knowing whether or not the shady character had bad intentions. In this case, bad intentions or not it does sound like the sight of a handgun made the guy decide that he wanted to be somewhere else. I am also saying that, while the sight of the openly carried handgun ended contact, in this case, carrying a handgun openly in a situation where the legal carrier wasn't aware of the shady character slipping up on him created an opportunity for the shady character to take the legal carrier's firearm and use it against him. In other words, both styles of carry have their pros and cons, risks and benefits, etc. I am glad the whole thing worked out okay for the OP but, because there was the possibility for the firearm to be visible to a potential assailant of whom the OP was not initially aware, things could have gone badly.

I 'planned on' getting my HCP for several years. One thing that finally put me 'over the top' was having to stop for gas in Chattanooga one night. It just so happened that, just after I began pumping gas, a few car loads of 'less than savory' looking characters pulled in to the gas station parking lot and just seemed to be sort of milling around. The closest thing I had to a self defense tool, at the time, was my Case Sodbuster pocket knife. I stood there pumping gas with my weak hand while holding my open pocket knife, concealed by my leg, in my strong hand. Well, just to play devil's advocate. the OP said that the shady character managed to sneak up on him. His account of events also indicated that the shady character did not see his (the OP's) handgun until after the OP was aware of the presence of the shady character. If the shady character did, in actuality, have bad intentions and saw the OP's openly carried handgun before the OP was aware the shady character had snuck up on him, the OP could have been posting a very different account. Specifically, he could have been recounting how he was pumping gas when a shady character snuck up behind him, took his openly carried firearm and used it to rob him and the deacon. I'm not criticizing the OP - I have been known to open carry for similar reasons in similar circumstances. I am just pointing out that such scenarios could go either way. I know that some people say that open carry is an unnecessary risk while others consider it a deterrent. To my mind, both sides are potentially correct.

This has made me think of a question... I wonder if plain, untreated 'salt blocks' made for livestock, etc. - the ones that don't have additional minerals and so on added - would be okay for human consumption and, therefore, a good way to store salt long-term. Assuming that 'pure salt' blocks are still available, my guess is that they would be pretty inexpensive. Because of being formed into 'blocks', they would be more compact and - as long as they were kept dry - would seem to be easier to store than big bags of table salt, etc. Of course, it is possible to buy blocks of Himalayan salt. It is 'gourmet' stuff that might be a bit expensive, though: http://www.atthemead...ndex&cPath=1_27

My 'best' so far with a handgun was multiple shots on a good-sized paper target at 100 yards with my 6.5 inch Heritage Rough Rider. I had the WMR cylinder in it and was shooting 40 grain Winchester Super X rounds. The shots were made standing, offhand (I don't shoot from a rest very much - I am not very good at it.) I mostly decided to try it as a lark but when I noticed I'd actually managed to at least hit paper a couple of times with the first cylinder full, I decided to try and 'dial in' to see what I could do. This was a day with no wind at the Spring Creek outdoor shooting range. I was a little winded by the time I shot the final cylinder full because we didn't have a spotting scope, etc. so I was walking all the way out to look at the target between each cylinder full shot. I couldn't believe I actually ended up doing as well as I did. I took a picture of the target and later put in 'color coded' circles around each hole in the target and a 'legend' explaining the colors. Here is the picture:

I believe that 158 grain JSP would make a pretty good, all around .357 round for a SHTF situation. No, it isn't a premium SD type ammo but I imagine it would put most anything from a two-legged attacker to a white-tailed deer, wild hog or similar game 'down'. PMC makes a version of this round which I have tried and like just fine. I checked a couple of places online and the price I found for them was $19.95 for a box of 50. My LGS sells them at a buck or two more, per box. As I mentioned, .38/.357 are among the calibers I have decided to really try and stock up on. That is partly because I believe that 'family' of cartridges to be useful in a wide range of situations. Honestly, though, it is mostly because I enjoy shooting my guns chambered in .38 or .357 the most of any in my small collection. As a long-term, SHTF situation of a type that would require me to fire a high number of rounds isn't all that likely, I figure if I am going to have a lot of ammo lying around it might as well be what I enjoy shooting the most. I don't plan to buy a whole lot of loaded ammo, though. Instead, I am about to get started reloading and that will be the source for the majority of my 'stockpile' for .38/.357.

What you aren't considering is that salt would be useful beyond making fries taste better. In the absence of refrigeration, packing meat in salt can help preserve it, whether used as a stand-alone method (salt curing) or in conjuction with other methods, such as drying (making jerky) or smoking. Prag posted his above comment, along the same lines, while I was composing mine.

That is kind of my viewpoint, too. I'm 40 years old, have had problems with a weak heart muscle and have other health related issues. If I find myself in a situation where 'sustained fire' is necessary to survival then I've seriously screwed up and I'll be dead regardless of what rifle I have.

Reality shows suck. They are just a way for lazy, uncreative types to come up with television shows featuring things that aren't very interesting but that require little money or effort to make. Where I live now cable isn't available (yeah, it is that far in the country) but when I could watch cable I used to enjoy the 'science' type shows on Discovery, the actual, history based shows on The History Channel and so on. Now all they want to show is some crap about loggers, some crap about miners and some crap about semi drivers. Hell, my dad was a logger (mostly pulpwood) at one point in his life and also drove semis long-haul for years. Some of my uncles (his brothers) have done both, as well. I don't need to watch television 'shows' about that crap. Further, who gives a tinker's damn about a friggin show about a pawn shop - much less two or three of them. And shows about bidding on unclaimed property in storage lockers? Yeah, I bet that is a thrill a minute. The worst, by far, however would have to be a show about repo men - and I think there are multiple shows about that, too. Whatever happened to shows about, oh, I don't know - actual science and history? Even the damned food network is nothing but reality show crap, lately. With nothing but that kind of stupidity on, I'm not even sure I'd still want cable even if we could get it. I am jonesing for my 'Walking Dead' and one or two shows from the SyFy channel but I can buy entire seasons of all those on DVD for less than what a couple months of cable would cost.

Wow. As others have said, I had a 'bad feeling' about the guy from the get go. I never thought, "Money scam," though. Instead, I always had the feeling he was actually an anti-gun 'mole' trying to stir things up. The first reason I got that impression was his very user name - on a gun board - extoling a cesspool that does not recognize the Second Amendment. As far as the 'extreme' things he said, I just thought he was trying to get others to voice similar opinions to support some claim that, "See - this is what those evil gun owners are like."