MacGyver

Weird. Edited, and added a disclaimer.

I can't think about any buffet without thinking about this: http://thewvsr.com/ryans.htm Fair warning, it's only text, but it does contain some bad words.

Magpul's Art of the Defensive Shotgun covers quick slug changeovers in various platforms in detail and that section alone is worth the price of the series.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1XCv0X6SqUg   Any shotgun class worth the money you pay for it should cover it at well.  And that's probably worth an additional mention - the shotgun is the most violent weapon system we have, but it's a complicated one, and it'll bite you if you don't really spend some time learning it, training with it and running scenarios with some stress added to them.    If you've not taken a defensive shotgun course, but plan to use a shotgun as a primary means of home defense, you should take the time to go through one.    You'll get your money's worth.

I think the biggest reason for a side saddle - in my opinion is to be able to do a quick slug changeover.  I keep my Benelli M4 stoked with 00 buck, and with one in the chamber and one on the elevator, it'll hold 9 rounds.  It's nice to be able to get the one out of the chamber and get a slug in quickly if for some reason the need should arise.  That opens up a lot of versatility that you might not have if you just grab the shotgun and assume what's in the tube is going to be appropriate for the situation.  Being able to quickly and effectively do quick slug changeovers really changes the platform.   With a 7 round saddle, I keep 3 slugs and 4 more rounds of 00 buck - this out of the old adage that if you aren't shooting a shotgun you should be feeding the shotgun.  It does add some weight, but I don't find that it affects balance.

An 80% AR lower isn't hard, but isn't fast by any stretch of the imagination. Anyone wanting to take a smaller bite of the apple ought to consider trying an 80% 10/22 lower first.

I like that saw-toothed top.  Nice leather work as well!

That is cool.

There's a theorem out there somewhere that states that any argument, if it goes on long enough will result in someone being compared to Hitler.

  We've got a real special place in our hearts for those folks...

I'd totally buy one of those. It would look great alongside this one: And this one:

The Ares Gear Ranger Belt is the best belt made.  Hands down.   As far as leather, I like DM Bullard, but in reality, like Rob said above just about any double layer stitched belt will serve you well.  I like a 1.5" belt.

  Most people use a foregrip for more of a reference point than an actual grip.  That's why the angled grips have become so popular.

Nice.  Depending on how you shoot, you might want to see if you can move that forward grip back just a bit.  You're probably going to want to be able to support the rifle without you hand necessarily contacting the barrel.    Congratulations on graduation and a job.  Those are exciting times!

I've never really been able to get my head around why government employees need a union in the first place.  I mean, the government wants what's best for us all, right?

What a shame. I had no idea.

I love working with Cocobolo, but fear the horror stories I've read about people developing sensitivities.

No squishy cups in the car. Feet on the dash directly related to the cuteness of the occupant.

It was a capital offense to be caught by Napolean's army with one of those.

The Crosman Rogue is a neat rifle. It's not your kid's pellet gun.

Wow, Dave! What a trip. Have a good time trying to count all your blessings tonight!

What's that old Proverb?  Raise up a child in the way he should go...

Walmart likely loves their competitors buying up their ammo to resell - at least in the short term.  Look at the prices in the OP, compare them to Walmart's "everyday low prices" and they see a lot more customers when all of this stuff dies down.

The Grumman exhibit at the Naval Air Station is second to none.   If you're already at the Naval Air Station, Fort Barrancas is a couple of hundred yards from the museum.  It's worth a look, as is Fort Pickens a little further out in Gulf Islands National Seashore.

My mama taught me not to speak ill of the dead.  So, this is a rare case where I find myself with nothing to say.   In light of the way this thread has turned, I found this article compelling last week:   http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2013/05/29/the_bomb_didnt_beat_japan_nuclear_world_war_ii?page=0,0   When you look at Hiroshima and Nagasaki in comparison to the 68 other cities that had suffered both conventional bombing and firebombing, the atomic bombings may not have really have the game changing impact we attribute to them.  The victor gets to tell the story, I guess.   Reading the article nonetheless makes you appreciate the horror that was the war in the Pacific. 

Call me one day and we'll grab lunch. You can try both my military and paramilitary before you buy. I feel like I've got at least that responsibility to your girlfriend.