TGO David

Welcome! What does ETS do exactly?

Here's a good basic overview on the two mentioned here... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USPSA http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IDPA I would love to go watch a match one of these days. I hear it's a ton of fun.

It's good to see you here!

It's worse than Christmas. At least you know when Christmas is going to be here.

Perhaps we can discuss this maturely albeit passionately here. What do you think of the current situations in the Middle East? Bush's decision to send more troops to Iraq Likelihood of successfully stabilizing Iraq The apparent upcoming stare-down with Iran I noticed this news story hit the wires just an hour ago. (LINK) Gotta admit that I'm not real crazy about the collision course we seem to be on with Iran. I definitely think Iran needs to have it's ass spanked but I'm not sure now is the time as hard as our guys are already working over there and as thin as they seem to be spread. Thoughts?

Your post mirrors my own method of doing things. And I too can't fault anyone for keeping their sidearm on them at home. Like you said, personal preference!

Glad you came over, Jeff. Old guns are cool stuff, in my book. We've got a slew of them at my relatives back in Kentucky just waiting to be sorted out.

Very glad to have you here. Saw your reply over on XDTalk and it's good to see more local folks filtering over.

Regarding the RCBS Pro 2000... http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=26 Retail on them seems to be around $850 which I suppose isn't too terribly bad if you shoot enough each year to recover the cost.

Update for me... A few weeks ago I ordered a CTAC and a paddle from Comp-Tac for my Kimber 1911. The CTAC took some work by them to get it right for this particular gun, and the paddle was just not going to work due to snagging issues. So I sent the paddle back and used it as an upgrade credit towards their new Infidel holster for my XD45. Yesterday the Infidel holster arrived and I used it to carry my XD home after work, wore it around the house a bit and used it again today to carry my XD to and from the office. Initial impressions: A little more comfortable than the CTAC when you're sitting down. I chose to use their single 1.50" belt clip attachment, and this allows the holster to tilt a little as I sit. It's quite literally so comfortable that I forget it's there when I am sitting. I can see where a good gun belt is going to be needed if I wear this holster for a longer period of time, though. Since it only has one point at which it attaches to my belt, all of the handgun's weight is put on that one place rather than distributed the way it is with the CTAC's two outrigger clips. For quick trips to the store, to and from work, etc. the Infidel is a ton more convenient to use. I can literally just quickly clip it into my waistband and go. With the CTAC I normally have to loosen the belt, maybe unbutton my jeans flap, affix the holster, position it and then tighten everything back up. Not so with the Infidel. Quick, easy, out the door. Handgun retention is excellent. As with all of the Comp-Tac holsters, retention is adjustable via two screws. Retention of the holster in the waistband is excellent as well. No worries of it coming out accidentally or when drawing. The belt clip is very secure and takes a conscious effort to unclasp it from my belt. If you're really worried, opt for the two belt loops instead. Could it be a suitable replacement for the CTAC? Actually... yes. With a very sturdy gun belt or by choosing any of the other belt attachment options, I can see where it would be just as stable as the CTAC even for long periods of time. As long as you aren't interested in tucking your shirt in over the holster and gun, then the Infidel is a great choice. Otherwise the CTAC is definitelt what you want to look at. I'm quite happy with it and figure I'll probably use it more often than the CTAC because of the ease and convenience it offers.

You got to keep a book? The class at On Target didn't give books to the students. I still have my book from my Kentucky permit class years ago.

Welcome! Glad to have you here with us.

I guess my question operates under the assumption that one would have time to arm themselves when in their home or other 'safe area' ... and I will concede that assumptions generally aren't foolproof and that time is not always on our sides. Interesting. I'll look forward to one day taking that class as well.

I'm interested in hearing a professional trainer's opinion on when it is OK to stand down, relax your vigilance to a degree, and allow yourself some down-time. Some things that I have read (first-hand accounts) from people who operate in high-stress environments overseas is that being hyper-vigilant all the time eventually leads them to burnout or symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Those who experienced this said that the most important thing to them to offset that was access to safe areas where they knew that they could drop down their awareness a few notches and breathe easier for a while. For me, I try to remain vigilant whenever I or my family and I are in public places. I watch my surroundings, watch my six even, and tend to "profile" people even if casually. Anymore it seems that this is only the smart thing to do because the wolf does prowl about in sheeps clothing seeking people to devour. As long as I am in an area that does not actively search for and prohibit being armed, I go armed. There are of course areas where you cannot do this for risk of arrest, so in those areas I do respect the law and disarm before entering. Personally my safe zones vary. Home is always a given and while I'm usually not armed on my person, any number of devices for protection (guns, knives, less lethal means) are within quick and easy access. Inside my office at work is also a given although I do arrive and leave armed. I just leave my sidearm locked away securely when I am at my desk, as do a few other employees here. But when I am at these "safe zones" I allow myself to rest easier and only become suspicious of others activities when something triggers that sense of alarm within me. Thoughts? Suggestions? Comments?

I think too that there has to be a knowledge of when to be vigilant and when you can stand down. Being hyper-vigilant all the time, even in safe areas, could eventually make a person paranoid or worse ... in my very unprofessional opinion. Watching the National Geographic: Explorer segment on the civilian security contractors in Iraq the other night, I was struck by the fact that those men who are consummate professionals, when in their safe area, do stand down at least a few notches. Granted, the guy playing games on his laptop still had his weapons near his side but he was allowing himself the time to rest a little easier it seemed. I don't carry in my own house, I don't carry when I am walking around at work, and I don't carry to places where I know good and well I'd be found out and arrested for it (schools, Federal buildings, getting on a plane, places with metal detectors, etc.) I realize that's beyond the scope of this thread's intent so maybe this is a discussion best moved to another thread... Regardless, I intend to one day soon take Yeager's fighting pistol class and am anxious to learn more about the mindset of staying vigilant, staying armed, and how you can accommodate circumstances where being armed is prohibited.

Thanks! We'll review that info so that she can get through the process as painlessly as possible. I'm just glad that she got her class out of the way.

I'd have been one of those complaining Americans back then.

So you're the guy who has to change the light bulbs on those things when they go bad? Glad to have you here with us. Hope you visit often!

Indeed. I'm absolutely floored at how quickly this has taken off.

Welcome! Love the avatar.

Welcome to the zoo... nice to see other XD owners!

Thanks for the invitation. I'm going to add this to the TGO Calendar.

Ahhh... electronic fingerprinting would definitely speed things up. They were still doing the inkpad and paper thing when I transferred my KY permit to TN back in 1998.

I've never heard of that and a cursory search of Google didn't turn up anything. It sounds like an urban legend and logically seems that it would have been impossible for the Clinton Administration to pull off and force the manufacturers to follow.

XD sights are very hard to remove and install. Franklin Gun Shop did the sights for Hornet Handler here on TGO. I believe the charge was $45 and they did it while he waited.