hipower

Welcome to TGO. Thanks for your service.

Reading these posts is a humbling and yet a frightning and depressing thing. Humbling to realize that no matter how bad off you think you are; there's always another to make you take stock and realize how lucky we truly are. Frightning to realize that we have come so far from our family traditions and upbringing in the last one hundred or so years that we've become jaded, cynical and commercialized in our celebration of the arrival of the Christ child. Depressing to think that perhaps some of these comments are not made in jest and reflect the true spirit of the jumbled mass of people that we have become. And before someone tells me I'm a self-righteous, hypocritical, blowhard for making these statements--wait. I've had all these feelings and more in the last 18 months. I was diagnosed with leukemia, had it transform into lymphatic cancer with inoperable abdominal tumors, had two complete sessions of chemotherapy, a stem cell transplant procedure and now am undergoing radiation treatments that hopefully will be finished by the week of Christmas. And not worked during this time, had company job insurance cancelled, and terminated because I couldn't return to work when family leave time ran out. So yes, I've had all those emotions and more. But, I'm still here. I was humbled greatly while feeling sorry for myself the first week of chem. I met a 42 year old young man with two young daughters and terminal pancreatic cancer. He didn't survive the chemo sessions. Yes, I'm humbled and mystified. He's gone. I'm still here. It's frightening to go thru this and even more so to think that there are so many of us (including myself) that walk thru life without seeing the things that are truly important and meaningful. Supply your own awnsers to that. I won't profess to say I know the right awnser for anyone but myself for that question. Depressing to see that in spite of all the beauty and wonder around us; in spite of all the troublesome issues that should occupy our minds when not caring for family and friends; we still haven't learned to see everything around us that is truly important. Living life to the fullest. Loving family. Playing hard. See I didn't forget that part. I like nothing more than to go to G&L for a couple of hours just as many of you do. Depressing and irritating to see us quibble over the individual interpretation of thoughts and feelings posted and shared here. Yes, I've been all the things I've written about here. But I'm trying to be better for this experience. I've learned more about humility, getting along with others, controlling my bad temper and foul moods, appreciating the people and world around me even when it seems we're all heading downhill at breakneck speed without a thought for the consequenses. I'm still trying to appreciate all the different and exhausting people around me. Hopefully, I will get there. And no, I'm not a complete idiot as some may think. I still dislike most politicians, hate the lack of border control and immigration regulation,really dislike the looming socialism, am disgusted by the attempts to fix health care and have national insurance, still believe global warming is an unmitigated fraud, but do try to conserve and believe making some changes in energy reforms, don't like PETA, but am against animal abuse, don't hunt, but see nothing wrong with hunting for food, don't care if you wear fur or not, believe in religous freedom, but not at the expense of removing God from our money, buildings and books, but leaving Allah-Budda-or any other religons' entity out there. And very much believe in MERRY CHRISTMAS! Not Happy Holidays or hoilday tree. Have I rambled enough and offended most everyone out there yet? I'm sorry if I have, but I wanted to say a few things. I know I haven't followed gramatical form and rules and probably not been clear in my thoughts. And even though I'm known as somewhat of a Grinch by wife and family; for many, many reasons I wouldn't like to skip the season. Yes people in general are obnoxious, spiteful, ungrateful, and deserving of all things said about us...We are all we've got. So relish every day and every one we meet, even the jerk who took your parking space. love your wife, kids, family, and friends. Thanks for putting up with this. I'll see you at the range. MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Go to the A&E website and play the handgun qualification game. It's kinda lame and old school, but not bad.

As tntnixon says, it's going to be cheaper if not better in most case to just buy a seperate gun. I don't know of one readily available now but Colt has made and still makes (I think) 1911 style 9mm. And there are others on the market as well, just do a little searching and you'll find one.

If you can wait, Crimson Trace has one coming out for the glock 22. I have a CT on a J frame S&W and really like it. I'm hoping the "coming soon" is soon.

Really good shots. I especially liked the water shots. I have a weakness for those. Thanks for sharing.

As a former non-45 shooter, I can say that it is an addiction. I started shooting 38, 9mm, 380, and of course 22's. My perception was that I couldn't handle the big heavy gun and the massive recoil enough to control it. I was taken to a bowling pin match and took JMB's second child, the P-35 Browning Hipower. I'd shot it for years and was fairly good with it...until I met "The Pins". After being humiliated at the line. (5 pins= 1+ mags of 9mm in 13-25 seconds//5pins=5 rounds 45acpin 5-8 seconds) I started looking at 1911's more closely. That was many guns and about 5-6 1911's ago. Still have my hipower and several others as well and really like shooting them all, but the 1911 is comfortable to hold and shoot, accurate as you want it to be or make it to be with modifications, and still attracts and commands respect from all the other pistols and caliber out there. So jump on in, the water's fine!

nightrunner is right on track with his comments I believe. I have an xd 4'' in 357sig and pretty much agree. But I'd say the felt recoil is different from a 45 auto and closer to that of a 357 round in a snubbie revolver. Not excessive, but harsh. The noise level is on a par with that of the revolver round as well. In close stalls at the range muzzle blast is very noticible. I found the gun and round to be quite accurate but has a noticible muzzle flash and would imagine night shots would certainly affect night vision. I like the round but not sure about as a carry-- lots of velocity but worry about overpenetration from some things I've read. The preceding comments are the opinion(only) of a guy whose guns regularly prove they are better than the man on the trigger.

Happy Thanksgiving to All here! Lets all remember our men and women in uniform today and every day! Thank You for your Service. God Bless You All. And a special Thank You goes to brooksjr for his wonderful efforts this past week.

PM sent

AMEN BROTHER!!! If you can't do the job for the PC BS, what hope is there?

Congratulations!! Live Long And Prosper!

What was the outcome? Was that poor polar bear that was being chased by the evil man encroaching on his land saved? Did a Save the Polar Ice Cap zelot run off that foul carbon-belching, poluting suv and save the world?

Real or not, that's great. Even if not, I can see someone trying something on the range. An old friend of my was t/c on an Abrahams and some of his stories are really wild. It's old school now, but when he was active he got reamed for night deer hunting with laser optics and the .50.

I Want! I like 22mag. Will make a great companion to my k22 Masterpiece.

Thanks, Jeff. I've been thinking of getting into rifles. Been a pistol man far too long.

Pardon my stupidity, but can the general public purchase there?

I'm told I have a twisted view of the ammo situation, but I keep the heaviest grain fmj I can find loaded in home and carry guns. For 2 reasons. One heavy hardball and fmj will penetrate almost all regular clothing. And number two, if I ever have to shoot someone, I don't want some uninformed liberal prosecutor, judge or jury say "You used those mankiller pdf bullets that hve no other purpose." I know this won't sit well with a lot of our members and casual visitors, but that's my feeling. And I do not think that there is anything at all wrong with using any of the new pdf rounds, I rather like some of them; but that's just my decision. Anyway I think the winchester jhp is an adequate round, but is is kind of dated for personal defense rounds. Does that seem confusing enough? I just think that a lot of thought needs to go into whatever round you decide to load into your handgun. It is a multi-level choice that deserves careful consideration on your part.

Wecome Geezer. And at your age, you're not; but we're getting there. And...Thank You for your service.

My personal opinion; G22 gets bought by a lot of glock first-timers (like me) who get police trade-in guns. Then get the itch for a 9mm and go for the G19. Which is my plan. Also thinking about a 45 compact type.

Don't have the 45 yet, but I do have an xd9sc and a 4" 40. The xd9sc is really accurate and easy to shoot and handle, the full size 40 is almost as good in both respects. Of the two, I prefer the sc9. For what it's worth, I'd say the compact 45 should be an excellent choice. I'm in the looking stages of getting one myself. Check G&L in Greenbriar, they have a good selection of xd right now.

Try as I might, I can't top the previous "comment". That says it all.

I like the 357 sig round. My first Springfield was a 4" xd in 357 sig. I'd heard that it was an uncomfortable round to shoot; but found it very managable. The worst I can say about it is that it is loud and the muzzle blast will be felt on both sides of you. Try shooting a few rounds at night. It's interesting.

Insideous little critters, aren't they. I recently traded for my first Glock . A G22 40 cal. A little bigger than I really like, but it holds well and shoots pretty good. I got lucky with it having pretty good nitesites too. It actually has me looking at a G19 as well. Found a really nice one the other day at a good price, but money is tight.