Patton

Unless you are talking about Alaska, I believe your biggest threat in the woods is still your fellow man. One is known as the man stopper and the other is known as the man killer. Take you pick.

Why wouldn’t you just buy a Glock 17 or 34 with 33 round magazines?

The turd used the old “fender bender” distraction to get the victims to stop and exit the vehicle. He then kidnapped both of them. They should have fought then and there.

I met the guy at Outpost the other day. I was looking for a RCBS small primer stem and sleeve. I picked up a used RCBS single stage for cheap and described it as aluminum. He was quick to say it was not aluminum and RCBS only made cast. I was honest and said I didn’t know they ever made aluminum ones until I found this one. Ok, whatever. I find a picture on RBCS’ website of the press and the part I needed. Well, wouldn’t you know, RCBS said the press was aluminum. I appreciate that he can acknowledge he was wrong. I start talking about my old press as being a turret press. He tries to say I have a progressive press. After I tell him grandpa bought it in the 60s and taught me to reload 30 years ago he kind of realized I was not new to the hobby.

The people at North Georgia Reloading are pretty nice. If you have a liberal side to you at all you will get offended. I don’t, but I have put on a face mask after entering the front door and could kind of feel the criticism. They still made me feel welcome though. I have bought materials from them before but their prices can be hit or miss. I completely understand though with it being a small business. They have not marked their prices up to gouge and I really appreciate that. Today they did have large magnum pistol primers and large match pistol primers. They were between $31 and $36 per 1k. As far as loaded ammo there was about 3k rounds of 40s&w and some 20 round boxes of 44spl and 44mag. All was reasonably priced.

I was never as sold on Z mowers as everyone else. For most properties, as in 90% of properties, I will take a 48” hydro walk behind. They give less trouble, cut more, do less damage, and ride hills so much better. At the end of the day they are cheaper to operate and make more money. The other 10% of properties are so large that z mower guys want to cut them too cheap to compete with anyway. I had a guy tell me he will ride his Z mower all day for $10 a hour as long as he doesn’t have to do anything else. I have found that z and walk behinds do better aired down.

My friend Mousegunner, Dr. Marshal St. John’s, departed us in 2011. He had only been interested in firearms for about 15 years but researched and contributed a lot to our hobby. I really miss his wisdom. He was an all around wonderful man. I frequently handle newly released firearms and think how much he would have enjoyed many of them. I just looked, Mousegunner’s last login was nine years ago today!

I haven’t seen one of those in a long time.

I have to be careful; I don’t want this to turn into a caliber war. I work for an agency that has vowed to stick with .40s. It was decided long before the ammo shortage even started and before the oversees contract for Gen 5 .40 Glocks was announced. We just didn’t see the reason to switch. I can’t recall the last time we had someone fail to qualify and we have even recently had some agents bring the top shot award back from various schools with them using a Glock 23. I try to keep up with agency handguns across the state. Ten years ago, and maybe as recently as five years ago, we didn’t have single state or local agency issuing or requiring 9mm. There were a few, very few, feds with 9mm. In July of 2020, I think TN has a three way tie for 9mm, 357 Sig, and 40s&w being the most popular LE calibers in the state. I think .357 Sig may be dying a slow death. If THP ever dumps the 357 Sig a lot of TN agencies will follow. Some of my friends at Hamilton County SO and Bradley County SO said it will be be near impossible for them to switch calibers because a good 90% of their handguns are deputy owned. It would be a logistical nightmare for agencies like theirs to reimburse officers to upgrade to a new caliber unless they did a slow integration and just allowed deputies and new hires to adopt the new caliber. Then you have to stock two calibers of ammo. That seems to be very common for sheriff’s departments to require deputies to buy their own and it’s been 40s for two decades or more. A few local PDs have the same practice. I heard an explanation for 40 being readily available over everything else this go around. Citizens that shoot a lot tend to shoot a lot of 9 and 45 so of course they are hoarding those. A lot of civilians with a .40 keep a box or two around at most. However, I recently heard the ammo manufacturers are running all the plants wide open the best they can. The 9mm side of the plant can’t easily produce 40 and vice versa. If each line can produce 100k rounds a day, and more people are buying 9mm, it is the reason the shelves are still stocked and getting replenished with 40. If you like to shoot, and you don’t have multiple calibers and are stockpiling all ammo you find cheap, you are doing it wrong.

I have always been found of the mousers. I have played with a lot of them over the years. It’s hard to bet a Ruger LCP.

Correct, but it is possible to put a beavertail on a previous generation.

It started May 25th.

I have bought some stuff from N GA reloading and I have been to their new location. If you catch something used there it will be a pretty good deal, and I don’t know how but the get some used equipment. I think some things are cheaper at Sportsmans and some things are not.

I have always been a fan of Sportsmans. Their reloading supplies are very reasonable.

Most of mine has come from Academy in the last three months. I buy reloading supplies when I find them and at a great deal. The most I pay to reload handgun rounds is about .16 and 9mm is closer to .12 a round or .09 if I cast my own.

I totally missed your conversation about the 40 Pittbull. I owned one about two years ago. I ran across it at a very reasonable price new. Super tuff finish, very accurate, and not finicky about ammo. It did feel every bit as stout as a 357; it has the same energy without the loudness. It was a little slow to reload. If it weren’t for a great friend waning it I probably would have held onto it.

If you already have a need for a commercial mower picking up some yards will make a little more sense. I used a 42” Exmark walk behind in the late 90s for a few weeks, but other than that I have mostly used 48”. I have seen a few 32-33” walk behinds used by some people I know and trust their judgements. I think I have seen more Bobcat brand than any. Their reasoning was entering backyard gates. The absolute best mower I ever used was a 48” John Deer hydro walk-behind. It gave over a decade of reliable service without many surprises. However, I am a huge Snapper fan but the new ones don’t have a attachment for a sulky and can be a little heavy.

How do you guys that find 40 recoil too much make it through daily activities like walking the dog, opening doors, and mowing the grass?

Ride through some of the neighborhoods. If you see more landscapers than you see yards that need to be cut it’s a sign the market is saturated with landscapers.

Reefermac sounds like a man with experience. I hate to say it, teachers and preachers are the worst about stiffing you. If it weren’t for the fact a lot of cops and firefighters do it on the side they would be bad too. Someone that works in a bank will have a check printed for you when you get started. As far as specialty skills, I knew a few people that made good money only doing ornamental pruning and a few others doing irrigation. I heard the comment several times from them, “Leave the mowing to the rednecks and the kids”. One of my favorite sayings is a fit, healthy person can make a living with a Toyota Tacoma, push mower, trimmer, blower, a garbage can, and basic yard tools like a rake and shovel. I’m not say to not buy a larger mower; it may be one of the last purchases I make. Push mowers cut grass and some of your reliable customers want it push mower. I like to ride a z mower, at least some of the time, a good hydrostatic 48” walk-behind is so much more versatile and requires slightly less to maintain. If I hear the comment, “I’m not push mowing anything”. I’m going to tell you find something else to go do.

I watch Yankee Marshal’s videos but he reminds me of a spoiled brat. I will actually disagree totally with auto caliber revolvers; they have a place. Forget about 9mm being out of stock everywhere right now but 9mm is between 38 and 357 energy wise. I shoot mostly 357 Golden Sabers because they are the equivalent of 9mm. The 9mm revolver just isn’t worth more in my opinion. A S&W 625 in 45auto is the cheapest new N frame; mine was $725 OTD. My S&w 625 auto is very fast and 45acp is the second most available pistol ammo at Sportsman’s Warehouse right now behind 40s&w. I do not require moon clips to shoot mine. I let gravity shake the empty cases out and stuck cases can be picked out with a fingernail or the rim of another cartridge. I actually wished my 625 was a 610 but the 610 is way too much money. I get free 40 ammo. My 625 is a great replacement for a 629 44mag. Most people that own a 629 would probably really be better off with a 625. The reason I say that is magnum loads for a 629 can be found fairly easy but 44 specials are expensive and not as easily found. A lot of 629 owners would probably shoot their 629 is 44 spl was as cheap and common as 45acp. I can load some really hot 45 which is fine for defense against everything in the 48. Speaking of loading, I keep meaning to get some 45 Auto Rim cases just because.

No one will cut it for the pulp alone. A tractor trailer of pines is worth less than $300 best case scenario. Most mills will not accept yard trees. It’s probably the worst time in the last 50 years to be asking about tree work in the Chattanooga and Cleveland area. In fact, I referred someone to Chattanooga Tree Service, which is honestly the oldest and biggest tree service in the area, and they are not returning calls unless your situation is an emergency.

I agree with DaveTN. Like I posted previously, the 9 is worth more but most would just assume have a 357. IT may be a Ruger Revolver collector that will pay the most. It’s not collector grade, in fact far from it, but it’s a 9mm which the collectors like. Most collectors want NIB. Many do like shooter grade. The average gun buyer and shooter will prefer the Speed Six in 357. Now the 9mm is les scommon and really worth more but the 357 or 38 sells faster and for even less money. I see it bringing $600 on Gunbroker very easily. I see 500 very easily as a private party sale on this forum or armslist.

Once again, I wouldn’t talk anyone out of it. I did it because I grew up around it and studied horticulture in school. My dad did it and actually still does turf grass treatments. If you have a low stress job making more then $35k a year with benefits I would not mow full-time. For some people it makes sense. Like if they really want a justification to have a nice truck and they already need a good commercial mower for their own lawn. If I didn’t have a desire for the truck or already need a 48 or 60 inch mower for my own lawn I would deliver pizzas and make more money. Speaking of which get ready for the 18 or 19 yo something who’s mommy and daddy bought them a new truck and new equipment to go out and compete with you. You know, the store bought rednecks. He gets to keep all the earnings for profit. These guys last two summers and get a real job or disappear.

Always a good idea. I have found many companies or individuals will price something incorrectly and then just stop going or stop doing quality work hoping the customer goes away. My in-laws have experienced this. They had a very good reputable guy who started doing it after I told them I didn't want any part of it anymore. I recommended him. They let him go to save $10 a cut and the new guy just stopped showing up except for when he was hurting for money. The customers he acquired after them he quoted them more and will now their yards no matter what. You honestly get what you pay for. It sounds strange but most people understand this. I found that when pricing a yard most people were ok letting you price it for a one time service to get an accurate feel for what it will take. Example: John Doe stops me and asks what it would cost. I would walk around and ask what they were paying their last guy and who it was. There were red flags I looked for. If company abc was doing it, and they aren’t happy, I know me and this customer will never work out. If company xyz is mowing it they are looking for the absolute cheapest price. I will tell the customer I am happy to cut it today for the $60 he was paying his last guy if I believe it’s a reasonable price. If I think I can save him some money I will know after the first cut. Truthfully, five or even ten dollars isn’t going to make or break anything. I have found the ones you price too cheap you will pay dearly for. They will be the first to owe you for several months or move and not pay you. Those that you mess up and price a little too high are hardly never late and never seem to bug you or blame you for something you didn’t do.