wileecoyote

Another point: love the Kahr guns but prefer the CM or CW variants because they are cheaper and function the same. And it's a huge pet-peeve of mine when an all-stainless or stainless / polymer gun comes with blued/black magazines. The blue PM9 should have stainless or blue magazines, not blued / black.

I have a pretty large collection and I teach a lot of students, so I enjoy the oddball guns once in a while. I own the raspberry Ruger LCP for that reason and plan to get the purple LCP soon. I'd love to get the blue PM9 too, but I wouldn't pay a premium for the color variant. In addition to making some new shooters more comfortable during their initial training, the colored guns are also easier to spot during exercises, thus slightly safer. Also, they are usually produced in much smaller quantity thus collector value is often higher many years later. But I dislike any brightly colored gun for concealed carry, as you want those to be hidden and inconspicuous, and you wouldn't want a defensive gun to be perceived as a toy.

Just got my first set of progressive lenses a week ago. Never used bifocals or readers before, only standard lenses. Was expecting it to be pretty tough but it was actually easy and quite pleasant to adjust to them. While I was waiting for the new lenses to be made I was fitted for Biofinity Multifocal contact lenses. They apparently feed two images to each eye simultaneously and your brain needs to learn to switch to the right images based on the distance you are looking at. Well those contacts are really awesome, no need for readers or glasses, and I can leave them in for up to a week at a time, throw them out after 30 days. I like them better than my new progressive lenses, but glad I have the lenses as a backup.

SOLD

My 9 mystery grab bags arrived a few weeks ago and I forgot to post the details of what I received, so here is the full report for those who were curious or might consider this deal when offered in the future:   All 9 bags were packed in a single large cardboard box which arrived via UPS in great condition. Each bag was a plastic LA Police Gear shopping bag about 16" square, and they were stapled shut. Each bag was labeled with a number in black marker on the outside from 1-9, either representing my total of 9 bags or perhaps a variety indicator so the shipping department could make sure that none of my bags contained the exact same items without knowing for sure what they were sending me. So here is what my 9 bags contained: Every bag contained a single postcard with a special coupon code for 10% off my next LAPG order. Each code was complex and different so presumably they are unique and can only be used once, which means I can use the discount on my next 9 orders, or give them out to friends. While probably nothing special, this definitely represents at least a little value as I will most likely order something from them again at least once, and I will probably hand a few cards out to friends. So I figure these cards represent a future savings of roughly $25 total, perhaps much more. Every bag contained exactly 2 gift items which were different from each other, so I received 18 total gift items not counting the discount cards or the plastic bags themselves (which can be re-used if the staples are removed carefully). Of the 18 total gift items, I only had 2 items which were repeated for a total quantity of 2 each, and 1 of these repeated items was pretty cool so I really only had 1 repeat item that was of marginal value and even that item was still useful. So the bags get an A+ rating for variety and surprise factor. The exact gift items are listed below along with the actual retail price of what each item was selling for on Amazon or a similar retail site if someone had it cheaper than Amazon, which was rare as Amazon had the best price on nearly everything. Items listed in ascending value, saving the best for last. Qty. 2 - Ruckpack Combat Nutrition Energy Shot Bottle - Used by US Special Forces ($2.79 each) Qty. 1 - LAPG Pocket Trauma Pack ($5.00) Qty. 1 - ESBIT Emergency Folding Pack Stove w/Fuel Tabs ($6.04) Qty. 1 - SharpNEasy 2-step Ceramic Knife Sharpener ($6.39) Qty. 1 - Rayovac 12-pack AA Alkaline Batteries ($6.84) Qty. 1 - 5.11 Tactical Morale Patch - Shot Skull ($6.99) Qty. 1 - Coghlan's Read-in-the-dark Compass w/LED Light ($7.85) Qty. 1 - NDuR Utility Flame 2-pack Fuel ($7.92) Qty. 1 - Streamlight NANO Light LED DEL ($8.18) Qty. 1 - Swedish FireSteel Mini - Orange ($8.94) Qty. 2 - 5-Star Gear #550 Nylon Mil-spec Para-cord - 100 Feet - Coyote Color ($8.99 each) Qty. 1 - NEBO NU13L LED Pocket Light w/Sharp Edged Striking Cap and Pocket Clip ($9.32) Qty. 1 - Leatherman Brewzer Stainless Steel Keychain Multi-tool ($9.88) Qty. 1 - LAPG Baseball Cap w/Military OD Green American Flag ($9.99) Qty. 1 - ORAL I.V. Rapid Hydration Concentrate 4-pack ($11.99) Qty. 1 - Coast HP4 Waterproof LED Pen Light 95 Lumens w/Pocket Clip ($24.29) So the grand total of all 18 gift items was $153.18 if purchased at the best possible price on the internet, but if I had to purchase all of those items from the separate sources I would surely have spent at least $22 in shipping, so I figure the entire package of 18 gift items was actually worth about $175. Then add in the $25 future value of the LAPG discount cards and the entire package of 9 mystery bags was worth roughly $200 total. I only paid $89.91 to LAPG and got free shipping on the order, so I essentially got all of the items above for a 65% discount off the normal retail prices. Even if you don't count the LAPG discount cards I still got 2 items per bag with an average retail value of $20 per bag, and I only spent $9.99 per bag so this would still be a 50% savings.   For me the bottom line was that all of the items were high quality major brands with very positive reviews, and are things that I will actually use or know someone that will use and appreciate them. The only items I didn't really care for were the Ruckpack Energy Shots which I will use but wouldn't buy again, as I can always find similar or better energy shots at Dollar Tree or local stores for less, and the ORAL I.V. product which had pretty good reviews on Amazon but I also found a controversial Youtube report which claimed that it contains nothing but saline water so I wouldn't buy that product at any price unless the manufacturer publishes the actual contents.   So yes I was pleased with my purchase and I will probably order more bags whenever LAPG does this again in the future. I just wish LAPG would publish the total # of bags to be sold and the total # of valuable items to be included randomly, so we know what chance we have of striking major pay dirt.

Go there in person at least one hour before he closes, without him expecting you. Ask to see your lower, to confirm he does have it. Wait around a while to see if he is selling other guns and calling them in. If he says the website is down tell him to use the phone to call it in. Let him know you aren't leaving without it. If he cannot produce your lower and you have proof that he received it, if he refuses to complete the transfer via web or phone, or otherwise makes any excuses... tell him you are going to call the local TBI, BATF, and BBB offices to file complaints. Have those numbers with you and call from his place of business if needed. Make sure you have your purchase receipt, proof of shipment being received by him, and your TN state ID with you. And take your cell phone and use it to record your entire visit so you will have audio evidence if needed.

Lebanon Agricultural Center, Friday 4/4, from 5:30 to 9:30 I went to my first Friends of the NRA banquet last year and it was awesome, much better than I expected. Lots of good food, drink (most include beer or wine), fun games, free gun raffle, silent auction for small accessories, and live auction for guns and other cool collectible things. It was so much fun that I went to 5 more of them in other counties. Tickets are normally $40 at the door but you can get them for $30 online if you buy before Friday. The Lebanon event is typically very popular and often sells out so get your tickets now. This includes your dinner, drinks, desserts, and a free ticket for the big gun prize which is raffled off at the end. Everything else is optional but I typically play some games and bid on small auction items so I usually come away with some cool gear too. I once got a great price on a gun at auction too, it just depends on how many people are after each gun, and there are a LOT of guns won at the event so you sometimes get lucky. Come out and support the local pro-gun groups and youth programs that receive all of the proceeds from the event. https://www.friendsofnra.org/EventDetails.aspx?eid=49087&sid=44

Were the primers being dented when you fired it in all 3 modes? If you did not get a mark on the primers in DA or SA slide-cocked mode then I would strongly suspect something with the firing pin block or transfer lever. I have worked on hundreds of sigs and would be glad to look at it / fix it for you for free if you swing by the Lebanon area.

[quote name="TripleDigitRide" post="1132397" timestamp="1396287026"]Can you give me an idea how to find this place? I live in Springfield.[/quote]I drove up I24 from Nashville, took the Springfield / Cooperstown exit (can't remember the exit number), and turned North. There was a small BP gas station with a Pizza place connected to it. The guy's small storefront was a single door in between the BP and pizza place, all 3 are sharing the same building. I think there was some sort of sandwich shop across the street. On the way home I went south across the exit and we ate breakfast at a Wendy's restaurant. That's about all I remember about the place, not much else around that we could see.

And here's a short story for comparison. I saw a Craigslist ad for a used gun safe a few weeks ago. Very good price on the safe, an older model, I assumed it was a personal sale. Agreed to buy it and drove 90 minutes to the seller's location. Turned out it was a very small store which had just opened in the middle of nowhere, just off I24 at the Springfield / Coopertown exit, I think it was called Farragut Sales but don't quote me on that as my memory is fuzzy. Not a gun store, more like a small convenience shop that sold mostly tools, knives, and misc cool stuff but he was selling a bunch of gun cleaning accessories and he also had a small section of ammo. As I looked around I was impressed with his prices and selection. Almost everything he had was good quality and very good prices, things I actually like and have used for years. He had a dog working behind the counter and we talked about all sorts of gun stuff. Said he used to run a gun shop but was now just running a small store near his new retirement home. Super nice guy. Then as I browsed the ammo section I see individual boxes of CCI Blazer, maybe 8 boxes total. It was the only ammo without a price, so I almost hated to ask, but I did. Before he told me the price, he explained that the market was crazy now and he refuses to buy or sell 22lr for crazy prices, but being in a pretty remote location he was getting a lot of customers in asking for 22lr and he felt bad that they couldn't get any anywhere. Lots of farmers or folks with kids that really needed it. So he purchased a small amount of it for $54.99 per brick and was selling it for $5.99 per box, making only $5 profit on the whole brick. He actually discouraged me from buying it, said it was only there to help the local folks, and he didn't have much at all. This guy was a first class sportsman, gentleman, and small business owner that I highly respected. So I bought about $40 worth of other stuff from him and went on my way. Seems he knows a little more about marketing than EW, perhaps they will learn from him.

I said it before, will say it again: EW made a big mistake no matter how you look at it. They either paid way too much for the ammo and failed to explain that when they marketed it (highly unlikely), or they tried to sell it for a high profit in such a way that they were almost certain to piss off the vast majority of their customers and the general public (most likely). They have now dropped their price down to $55 per brick which I still think is too high, and I won't buy any at that price, but I don't blame them for not going much lower because there are a fair amount of people paying that price and more for it locally and online. While I don't blame them and won't crucify them for the new price, I still think it's another bad mistake. After suffering such a bad blow from their first mistake they could have done something truly spectacular to impress everyone and win back some business. Like selling it at or very near cost with strict limits of 100-250 rounds per drivers license to stop resellers, or giving some away with each firearm purchase. Or raffling off a free brick once per day for those who post on their Facebook page. Whatever the case, I do hope they learn from their bad mistakes before it's too late. More gun stores = always better than less gun stores.

I don't think the mutilation requirement would be tough. You could probably just take a long section of rebar and drive it through the center of each pallet with a sledge hammer. They just want you to do something that shows you won't be using the product in the same manner it was originally designed for. The real issue is that nobody here is likely to cough up the cash to place a bid that high, especially not with the short time left. Would be nice though, I could easily sell 6,000 lbs of it between my own order and a few friends.

That's no sale price. Reloaders Bench in Mt Juliet sells the same bullets for around the same price all the time... and I think both are a little high because I've gotten the same bullets cheaper from several places including David on this forum, who can't be beaten on price or friendly service. And based on EW price gouging on the 22lr for $77 per brick out the door, I'll never visit or spend a dime with them even if they do have a decent sale.

[quote name="tnguy" post="1130438" timestamp="1395885322"]Wile-e, I don't think your security ideas are out of line, I think what people are getting at is that if you haven't already made that decision, one stranger wandering along the edge of your property may not be a reason to lurch that way. With that said, you gave some food for thought. I have already started going the camera route. Is there any particular motion sensor you prefer? Perhaps this should be its own thread.[/quote] Well, I would agree that someone who hasn't already made a decision to have basic to intermediate security measures in place shouldn't do so based on a single account of a stranger trespassing. They should do so without any event occurring whatsoever, as soon as they realize that a gap exists which places them at risk. Too many people wait until something bad happens to take action, which is like closing the barn door after the herd is already gone. I do have over 20 years experience in the security area, both residential and commercial. It's never been my main job but I have held several dealer accounts, designed / installed / repaired numerous systems, and mostly did the work for free or at cost just to help out family and friends. These days I just do it for myself and close family members because I don't have enough free time due to my other hobbies and volunteer work. But if anyone here is seriously interested in getting security systems such as alarms, cameras, or perimeter motion sensors you can send me a PM with your name and email address / phone number and I'll call you to discuss what your needs are and offer free advice and recommendations. You can buy and install most of this stuff yourself and it can cost as little as a single firearm, plus you use it every day 24x7 so you get a lot of value out of the investment. I'm not selling anything and I won't come to work for you, just offering to help anyone who is serious. I don't want to post all the details in the public forum as it could take me hours to write it all up and my advice would change depending on your needs, and I just don't want to waste all that time if people aren't serious enough to identify themselves and talk on the phone. This thread has already gone way off track with too many unprofessional and inappropriate comments so I'm hoping this post (my last in this thread) might help to bring it back on track.

[quote name="BrasilNuts" post="1130433" timestamp="1395884923"]Gas? A few trailers? That's 60,400 lbs... you need diesel and a couple of dump trucks.[/quote] No, dump trucks or similar construction vehicles would get terrible mileage and be cost prohibitive for the distance involved. You could do it with a few trucks towing max capacity trailers, my vehicle alone could tow 12,000 lbs. easily, done it many times. But the most cost effective transport would likely be freight carrier and the cost would need to be factored into the bid. I don't see enough serious interest on this site so not worth debating or planning further, but would have been cool.

I'm serious and would gladly purchase up to 3000 lbs. as noted. I'd even be willing to help with pickup costs, which would need to be factored into the price as gas to make the round trip won't be cheap, and we would likely have to rent or borrow a few trailers that can handle the weight.

[quote name="Luke E." post="1129978" timestamp="1395797949"] If it's pure lead it will get really expensive trying to get the bhn high enough for most firearms applications. I had a line on a bunch of pure lead and did the math on the costs to mix in various other alloys to bring it up to acceptable hardness and no matter what I tried it didn't make sense. Maybe I missed an option? Perhaps.[/quote] I'm just getting started casting, but I think if you powder coat the lead bullets they do just fine with no leading in the bore.

Agreed. The same is true of almost everyone you meet at work, in stores, on the streets, in restaurants, etc. The vast majority are not going to commit crimes or harm you, and thus pose no risk to you. Yet we still own (and many of us carry or keep at home) firearms for self defense should the need arise. And this is why I have security measures in place at home as well. Not to catch my neighbor chasing his dog or my dog taking a dump on video, and not to react to friendly folks by calling out the swat team... but to allow me to monitor my property at all times and be alerted proactively whenever someone or something unusual is about, so that I can evaluate and react accordingly without placing myself or my family at risk. It's just logical and is not difficult or expensive, so why not? Of course the odds are pretty good that you can live like Sheriff Andy Taylor from Mayberry and never carry a gun, always say "howdy" to every stranger you meet, and greet trespassers with nothing but a smile, always offering to help them with whatever they might ask... and you will likely do nothing more than make a lot of good friends. But alas, our society is not truly like that fictional Mayberry town, and there are a few bad guys out there... crime does exist, some of those strangers are going to be less than innocent, so it's up to you if you want to err on the side of caution or continue living in Mayberry mode.

I had purchased 20 of them and already gave about 10 of those away. Everyone that received one was duly impressed and found it to be quite useful. They make nice little gifts, especially since the US version marketed by Sinclair costs $15-$25, yet these direct from China are the same thing for only $1.99 delivered. I will probably order more once my current stash runs out.

It is interesting that folks can be very pro-gun and believe in owning, storing, and carrying guns at all times, including for home defense, and they typically spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to outfit the family with the proper firearms, ammunition, safe storage devices, and training to properly defend themselves should the need arise. Yet some of these same folks question the need for basic or intermediate security measures to protect their loved ones, homes, and property... especially when many of the security measures are far less expensive and safer / much easier to use than firearms.   I would expect a significant percentage of the uneducated public to be slightly resistant or at least indifferent to the idea of owning, carrying, and using firearms for personal defense, and I can see how these same folks might scoff at some security measures with the same argument: "why on earth would you possibly need that?"... "if something happens I would just call the police"... "anyone with a lot of guns is probably a Rambo / wacko type"... "we don't need security systems because we live in a nice neighborhood with great neighbors"... "we have a dog who will protect us"... etc. etc. We have all heard these arguments before.   What surprised me, however, is those here on TGO that are presumably very serious about their firearms ownership and self defense, yet they scoff at the basic and intermediate security measures as though those are completely unnecessary or overkill. To me the logical argument is the same across the board, and is similar to the reason why we all have car insurance, home owners insurance, spare tires, and locks on our doors. We don't expect something bad to happen, and we believe that the odds are against anything serious going wrong on any given day, yet we still see the value in being prepared to protect and help ourselves should the need arise.   Upgraded locks, exterior lights, decent home security systems, basic to intermediate cameras, and perimeter motion detection sensors are actually pretty cheap and easy to install, with most of this stuff combined costing less than 1-2 good firearms. And basic things like trespassing signs, property line markers, and bait items can be free or cost less than a single box of ammo. So my argument would be that it is foolish not to invest in a complete security plan, especially because it can give you that early warning which may allow you to avoid a bad situation where you might otherwise need to use firearms. If I hear a perimeter property alarm I can easily move to a safe location and check what is happening via a remote camera rather than confronting an unknown situation in person, so why not do that? if I see it is my neighbor Fred chasing his loose dog, or a pair of young kids walking through the creek then I can just as easily decide to go say hello, or leave them alone and do nothing. But if I see something unusual then I don't have to take any risk at all, and should something bad happen it will surely be helpful to have the security systems in place, and video recordings to help with the aftermath.   And there are many unrelated benefits of good security systems. Modern systems allow you to monitor your home and property while traveling, which is great on vacation or extended trips, and also allows you to keep an eye on any service personnel that might be making deliveries, cutting the grass, etc. On stressful days at the office it can be quite relaxing to take a few minutes to login and watch a flock of turkeys grazing in the back pasture, or watch a sunrise or sunset over my scenic land. And if you have kids it can be pretty nice to know when they are coming and going from home, especially if they are late or otherwise not reporting in or answering their phones. For those who might still scoff at some of these security measures, I suggest you try it and see what you think. Many of my family members and close friends have been converted once they have seen how cheap it is to get this stuff, and how cool it is to use for many reasons.

I'd take 3000 lbs of it for no more than $0.50 per lb. assuming it's pure lead and is not contaminated. The requirement to destroy it on site or witnessed by DoD rep seems odd, how would you destroy lead?

[quote name="Erik88" post="1129479" timestamp="1395711794"]Exactly this. Putting up signs(do you really think that's going to do anything, think about no guns allowed signs) and cameras won't do squat. You wife needs to consider what she would have done had this person actually been a threat. [/quote] Great advice on preparing the wife and family members. Signs do make everyone aware of your property lines (including you) if the boundaries are not fenced or otherwise obvious, plus they send a message that you don't want casual visitors dropping by, and they make it a lot easier for you to prosecute if someone trespasses or causes other problems. Video cameras can be a great deterrent if they are visible, especially to the novice criminals or those looking for an easy score (the vast majority). They are also great for allowing you to keep an eye on things when you can't be there in person, and they can alert you proactively before anything bad has a chance to occur. And should a break in, violent crime, or other serious situation occur, you will have invaluable evidence to catch and incarcerate the bastards. You won't appreciate the value of these until you have them, and if something bad goes down without video then you'd give anything to go back in time to change your mind. In fact it wasn't long ago that I had someone break into my reloading shack and go through my supplies including various explosive compounds and other valuable items, but the security measures allowed me to catch and deal with that clown promptly. Here is a short video snippet from the surveillance setup: http://tinyurl.com/m3evx5

Friend of mine did exactly what you propose to do for more than 12 years, minus the range. He was in North Lebanon / Hartsville area. He just recently turned in his license for personal reasons. I have a lot I could share with you, more than I could post publicly. A few key points: If teaching HCP your range and classroom facilities need to be approved by the state, including handicap accessibility, safety requirements, and insurance. This is not so easy or cheap to do. Noise violations can also be a problem down the road depending on how your current and future neighbors react. As a small business your volume (firearms sales) will be pretty limited thus your discounts from distributors will be small, and you will be near last in line to get prime inventory. Special orders and small inventory orders are rarely price competitive with the big online dealers or big box stores, and even when you do make a profit it will be marginal. So you would need to go high volume to make it financially viable long term, or be content to make minimal profit more like a hobby. Training is much more profitable but you really need a centrally located classroom, preferably in town near a major exit to draw enough business for steady income. Not trying to discourage you, I think the idea is great and I have often thought of doing the same for early retirement, but for me it would be about enjoyment and not income or investment. If you want to make a lot and survive long term then you need a pretty practical growth plan for all facets of the business, and enough investment to see you through the first few years which will likely be pretty lean.

[quote name="gregintenn" post="1129182" timestamp="1395671306"]Wow! It sounds like you either need to move, or else seek help from a competent mental health professional. I don't have enough information to say which is the case.[/quote]Like I said in my post, I have reasons for extra security, which I will not relate on a public forum, nor will I attempt to justify or debate with you. Your reply was neither helpful nor contributory to the topic of the thread. If you have nothing but snide remarks it's probably best to keep those to yourself.

There are so many variables involved with trespassing scenarios that you really can't judge or react to them all in the same manner. Size of the land, number and type of adjacent lots, presence of fences or other borders, time of day, nature of the offender(s), location of roads, trails, creeks, etc. etc. But in general my rule is that if it is uncommon, out of the ordinary, or otherwise makes you uncomfortable then it is a problem to be addressed promptly, and is best to err on the side of safety and caution than to end up becoming a statistic, especially when you have family members or valuable items to protect. I do all of the following for my own land, which may seem excessive to some of you but I will only say that I have good reason to do so, and there's really no down side to being extra cautious. Perhaps some of you may find a few ideas useful or can share others which I will find useful. Post the borders of your land with weatherproof signage mounted about 10' high on mature trees to discourage removal. Walmart sells signs on rolled yellow plastic sheets for $0.44 each. Install fences, even something as simple as a single strand of barbed wire if you can't afford something better, or at least sink stakes in the ground with colored flags attached to indicate your property lines. Install wireless weatherproof motion detectors at all possible points of entry or egress to your land, or at least on every approach to buildings, with at least one alarm receiver in your central location. I find it best to camouflage these, tune to avoid animals or false alarms, and test / replace batteries at least twice a year. Install wired color security cameras with infrared night vision and remote viewing via your cell phones / computers. Best to use the models which have built-in as well as off-site recording, and alarm notification features as well. Cover all buildings and common entry / exit points such as driveways, windows, and doors. If you are not trained to spot tracks or other signs of intrusion, place small items of modest value and high visibility (such as small painted ammo cans, cheap plastic tool boxes with a few cheap tools, etc.) at random places on your property, especially wooded or secluded spots. If they are moved or missing then you know it wasn't Bambi and you can install game cameras after setting out additional bait. Keep a log of any damage or removed items, tracks or signs of intrusion, damaged fence or flags, etc. including archived video from the cameras. Report any trespassers or thefts to the local police and your neighbors, even if seemingly negligible. Let your neighbors know that you have posted your land and taken various security measures without going into detail. Do not share the details of your security systems and methods with anyone, not even friends or secondary family unless they have a specific need to know. There are many other components and methods related to home and personal security so I won't go into all those here. I just listed some common things related to property line security and trespassing. If anyone wants specific advice or more details just feel free to PM me directly.