McAllyn

Decent cleaning and maintenance should keep it from happening, I should think. I bought a used 1911 with laser grips. When you depressed the button, the pattern looked like one of those "square bar code patterns" you scan with your cell phone. Took a couple of hours of cleaning with a toothpick, Q-tip, Windex, Hoppes, and basically anything I could find. Come to find out, whoever owned it in the past somehow got gun oil on the lens, and it took FOREVER to get it off instead of just smudging it from one spot to the other. I can only assume the lens on the guide rod would be similar to the lens on the CT grips. A little care goes a long way. Mac

I've looked at every vendor on the web I can find, and everyone seems to be out of the barrel I'm looking for. Or, possibly, it doesn't exist... I want a 14.5" midlength lightweight barrel in 1:9 twist (1:8 at the most). Chrome lined, preferably hammer forged, extended feed ramps. Rainier has one listed at 1:8, and they have been out of stock for months, and no ETA on a new batch. BCM has everything I'm looking for except it's 1:7. Everyone else I know of: Sabre, Del-Ton, White Oak, CMMG, YHM, and a couple places that didn't mention the manufacturer are all out or simply don't offer this. Does anyone know where one of these might exist, or would it be easier (yet more expensive) to have a 16" cut down? Thanks, Mac

Cool, I stand corrected. Admittedly, I've never shot 9MM rounds out of any barrel longer than 5", so the topic of velocities has never come up for me. Mac

Not sure what range restrictions you're looking for, but Hoselton Ventures out on Turkey Creek Church Road has a small outdoor pistol range. Mac

I'd go with the black one, but it's your call. Mac

While I have no first hand experience with the guide rod lasers, I have been told that after 100-200 rounds, the carbon buildup on the lens can effect the focus of the dot. Could be an intarwebz rumour, but seeing what the end of my stock guide rod looks like after a range session, I can see how it could happen. Mac

Don't use 150 as your target power factor. You need to use 155 minimum to allow for variances in temp, elevation, and standard deviation for chronographs. Personally, I'd look at more of a 160 floor. But, even using 150, you'd need 1300fps for 115g bullets, 1200fps for 125g bullets, and 1020fps for 147 bullets. You'll be HARD pressed to find any of those rounds available from manufacturers. That kind of pressure from those rounds are going to be putting your cases under a great amount of stress, not to mention what it will do to the weapon itself. The JR that Dolomite linked above is listed as blowback, I would assume the Thureon is the same. Running a 150+ pf load through a blowback carbine is going to wear out, if not wholly destroy, the internals pretty quick. As recommended above, you would probably be much better served to spend your $800 on an existing AR that is good to go from the start with parts that are easily replaceable from literally hundreds of vendors instead of pigeon-holing yourself with a custom weapon that isn't assured to work for your application and can only be repaired by the manufacturer. Don't get me wrong, I love 9MM AR's, I just wouldn't recommend one for 3Gun. Mac

I've never heard anything bad about Bushmaster, and I have a friend who shoots a highly modified one in long range competition. I've never seen any indication that they are any better or worse than most middle of the road manufacturers. If I were in the market, Bushmaster would be in the running along side Smith M&P, Rock River, Colt, or a couple others. Mac EDIT, looking at the one linked above, looks pretty plain jane straight forward except the 14.5" with the pinned FH. If your local shop has it for right at $1000 or less, you probably won't be disappointed.

I've always preferred MOBG, Minute of Bad Guy, but I think it means the same thing.Mac

I have the Black Desert Sand Operator II's on my hard chrome 1911, and I have to say that they would be very balanced between your black frame and stainless slide. Just my opinion, though. Mac

I tend to lean toward my Glocks, but I love my 2011's. In a TEOTWAWKI situation, I'll probably grab a wheel gun and a Glock. Oh, and why does everyone use the "45 is the super bullet" arguement in the 1911 vs. Glock discussion? I'm pretty sure there is a 45 ACP Glock... Mac

I learned my father's mentality about buying something. If there's something I want, I look for it, either on-line, locally, or at a gun show. If I find it and it has a reasonable price, I buy it and be done with it. If the price is higher than I think it should be, I leave it behind. As to the OP's question, what are you trying to accomplish? Are you looking to go somewhere that you can fondle the most weapons to see what fits, or are you looking for the best price? I don't buy from gun shows because I've never found any weapon priced right and recently the selection isn't worth the $7-10 premium you pay just to look. I'm also not a "people person" so I don't hit up the guys in the parking lot or walking the aisles (but that's where the deals are, I am told.) Guns and Leather in Greenbriar and Franklin Gun Shop in Franklin seem to have the most varied selections to choose from in the case. I've never been to D&T, but from what I've seen of their prices, they and G&L seem to lead the pack for the most part. Mac

Launcher for the drive and fairway shot, BattleAx stock for putting, just flip the rifle over. FOREEEEEE!Mac

FWIW, I've never had to use the FA on any of the AR's I've owned, but I've only used it for sport shooting, nothing "mission-critical." I also can't say I've ever closed my dust cover either. From my experience, they have been extraneous options on my sporting rifles. You may have different needs or run into different circumstances. Mac

Did they define a "Long Gun" as a weapon with a barrel at least 18"? Kinda' blows that whole carrying an AR for defense thing, doesn't it? (Unless you have a barrel longer than the standard 16") Mayhap, and I hope, I misunderstood the writing? Mac

Darn, now I have ignore both UFC and Fox. Oh wait, I already do that. Nevermind. Mac

I will admit to using an almost double compressed load of 7.1 gn of VV N350 in my 38TJ/SC. The case was basically full before I seated the bullet. And, yes, this was the round I was shooting when I took a frag in the eye, lol. Mac

I've never really been able to go by generalities like that. All powders require different charges, and flake, ball, or extruded powders all take up different amounts of space. Use the manual or recipes for whichever powder you are using. I give precedence to charge weight versus case volume.Mac

There are far too many manufacturers out there with great weapons already on the shelves ready to go home with you. Get an RRA, Colt, S&W, DPMS, etc, for the same price or less, carry it home and shoot the crap out of it for 6 months. I won't knock the RJF guys because I've never actually felt or seen their work, but I can't see waiting 6 months for a run of the mill AR to be built by anyone. Mac

Stoeger makes the Condor O/U which runs in the $350-400 range and the Model 2000 Semi's for about $450. They seem decent enough, but to be honest, I've never shot one. Mac

I will go, I will spend some money, I will not hurt anyone. I doubt I will speak to anyone or thank anyone, but personally, I would just be happy to know that there will be enough of a surge in sales that day to negate (if not reverse) the plans of this super-minority group. What would that take, probably $10 in sales per store? Not really all too excited about excessively rewarding a company for adopting the stance of following their local laws. But, I do respect that they are not caving to pressure, especially considering what Starbucks' main demographic started as. Mac

Riggs and McClain were two great examples of 92FS users, but I bought my first one because of Leon. Even though I don't have any of my 92's anymore, I still have the SGS style compensators The Professional used in case I get another one. Mac

The 92 Compact L or M frame is only slightly larger than the 8X .380 frames. Single stack, barrel is basically flush with the slide, and noticeably lighter than the full size 92FS or M9's. If you haven't felt one, you really should check them out, although they are anything but plentiful.Mac

The early models of the 92FS imported from Italy had straight dust covers and no warning placard. Later American models included the slanted dust cover and the "If you shoot me, you'll die" billboard. As to why it's called the "dust cover," you got me there. Same reason that section of the frame on a 1911 is called a dust cover, I guess, but seems like the only thing it's protecting from dust is the recoil spring and guide rod, which I would think aren't all that affected by some dust.Mac

My favourite internet meme/saying is, "Han shot first. That is all." Mac