musicman

Look at Academy's website academy.com for some info. Yildiz is their brand name.

Shield. Or Glock 42/43... ya know... if you're... uh... into that kinda' thing.

Bingo. Dudes paying $3k for boutique ARs don't want to admit that a $400 PSA kit is functionally identical. Same thing in any hobby... you can find a way to spend thousands of dollars on something if you want, but usually there's an option with same functions for 20% of the cost, just without the panache. I've had a few PTAC kits and all have been 100% for me, both with cheap steal and fancy ammo.

It was getting late... I just don't have stamina I did in my younger days. :-(

Great... been on that site for an hour now. Thanks a lot... jerk! :-P

How diggity BigK, that's an even better deal! I'll have to study on this. I like that I'm starting to see some nice options under $100 for a 15" rail now. It keeps amazing me to watch the AR market continue to grow with new manufacturers, etc, joining in all the time while prices continue to drop. Great time to be a consumer!

Zing!

Todd is one of the best dudes on the board, bar none. :-)

http://www.joeboboutfitters.com/Matrix_Arms_VIctor_KeyMod_Handguard_p/ma-victor.htm Stoopid cheap and has the look I want. I'm nervous as I see their name related to some Airsoft stuff. Too good to be true, or a bargain for a no-name that makes a solid product? What say ye, fellows?

And you are TOTALLY missing the point of the conversation. Over and over. You have a CHOICE when it comes to credit. You can choose to extend yourself and get into debt. Or you can be a millionaire (my parents) and get tons of free stuff at no expense to you, simply for using plastic instead of carrying around $15k in cash all the time. (I have a funny story of Dad paying for a pair of jetskis in small bills because the salesman pissed him off. Took dude almost 2 hrs to count it all, haha!) Sure, you don't NEED a credit card to pay for airplane tickets. You can pay in cash or check. Some folks, who are smart enough to realize and use the advantages afforded to them at no cost simply don't have to pay for them. At. All. Before GM put low limits on their cash rebates towards vehicles, my Dad regularly got anywhere from another $3k-7k off the new Tahoe he bought with cash every 2 years, simply for using a GM card for his business expenses. He did not buy things he shouldn't have because he had a credit card, he simply used that instead of cash or check whenever he gassed up work vehicles, bought tools or meals. He needed gas, tools, and food regardless of the payment method. You can enjoy an aversion to credit, but facts are facts. You keep saying that if you use a credit card you are paying interest. Do you understand that that is not necessarily true? If I buy $1k worth of stuff, and then pay my card off in full within the usual 20-30 days from the statement date, I only pay them the $1k. Nothing more. That is the key to the whole mystery. As for the 20% downpayment for a house: congrats! That's great! Very happy you had the ability to do that! When my wife and I bought our house one year after college, we did not have almost $40k in the bank for a down payment. What we did have were excellent credit histories and solid jobs at the time. We got a rate just one quarter of one percent over prime. An excellent rate no matter your financial situation. As rates came down we refinanced again, and now to a 15 year loan and are shaving quite a bit off the back of that as well. Our cars are also paid for. The breakdown in this logic that credit causes debt is just as blatant as the sad, pathetic, and just plain stupid idea that Moms Demand Action and their ilk push... they say guns cause crime, and if we remove guns from people, crime will stop. The FBI proves that to be a lie. It is generally the IMPROPER USE of guns by people who should not have them in the first place that causes nearly all firearm crime. Similarly it is the IMPROPER USE of credit by people who are ill-equipped to handle the responsibility or by people who just shouldn't have it at all that gets people in debt. (Housing crisis, anyone?) Greed, instant gratification, sometimes a feeling of hopelessness and a lack of understanding of compound interest are the problems. Not available credit. Credit cards are tools just like firearms, hammers, and cars. Making mistakes with any of them can cost you. I won't call anyone a fool who properly uses a hammer.

I'm not too far from your situation 10ring, but I dig credit cards for the perks. I get basically 5% back with Academy's card when I shop there. My Mom hasn't paid for an airline ticket since before I got my driver's license, and has never paid interest. She flies 3-4 round trips per year. There was one month, when my Grandpa was very sick/died that she forgot to pay her CC on time. They waived the interest and late fee for her. It's fine not to take advantage of the benefits available to you, but I don't begrudge anyone smart enough to leverage things in their favor, either. :-)

Popeye's is where it's at. That's Norm McDonald playing the part. Terrible waste of one of my favorite comedians, imho. Terribly stupid commercial.

On Target in Murfreesboro has a bunch of autos and a few OTFs.

The SAME or similar? That's news to me.

Plenty of gun shops in Nashville I think, just not many that carry old surplus Mausers it seems. I think Rutherford County has a great selection of shops as well. I've got more than a handfull to choose from within 10 minutes of my house, and they all have been great to me.

Exactly. Cheap backup gun. Imho, for just a little more scratch one can get a BUG that is also fun to shoot like a Shield, XDS, etc. Just a smidge bigger, but oh so much more pleasant to shoot.

https://youtu.be/Uu33Gn28GCI This song presents a tough challenge for me these days. Both globally, and right on my street where my friends and neighbors are dealing with so much hurt and brokenness, how can I be the light I am called to be in a darkened world? What can I do to help so many who need it? Sorry not sorry to get all faithy here. This song has really been poking me. I, as a dude, am happy. I have a great wife, an OK job, and a wonderful home. However, I don't feel I'm living up to all I've been blessed with. I feel a conviction that I am doing a fine job living for myself, but not much else, and I'm just praying and trying to figure out how to grow into something more than that, and to be the servant that God wants and Jesus exemplifies. It's harder than they told me it was in Sunday School when I was a kid. Oh... and Joe Bonamassa... just cuz he seems to be the bee's knees on TGO lately. ;-)

I heard just yesterday that the deal didn't happen from a friend at church. Hm. I wish both parties the best.

So the good news... today was probably the most perfect day to be in a field. My 3rd attempt at an arrow plug (cut down an arrow for a mag plug for my 930) was a success and the gun ran flawlessly. The 870 worked too, I just like the lack of effort required to run a semi-auto. I had a great time with my friends. The bad news... we only saw about a dozen birds from 2pm to almost 7. This was the same field a group got almost 50 from last weekend. :/ My very first shot was lined up perfect... he was flying away in a straight line, like a radius from the middle of a circle, with me being the starting point. I pull the trigger... nothing. Wha? I look down... safety is on. :/ Flipped it off, got back on the bird but he was too far gone. I missed the next one completely, and got a couple feathers on the last one that was close enough to attempt a shot on, but he kept on flyin'. My buddy was a little further up the hill and got two, but he was the only one to connect at all out of 5 of us today. The other four were veterans, I was the newb. Best part of the night was dinner... this family eats GOOD! Smoked, bacon wrapped pheasant, quail, venison, and so much more. He also grilled burgers, pork chops, and chicken breast, but that tray didn't even get touched!

K. You have seriously caused me mental anxiety about the 930 now. This guy is getting wood tomorrow. Wait... that didn't sound right.

Got two 40 rd boxes of American Eagle 22 at Academy in Smyrna for $2.19/box today. Maybe 100 boxes left after me at 4:30ish.

Great tip on the grocery bags for the birds. I was just wondering about that today. Think I'm gunna grab one of those game bags/dump pouches as well. Oh, and the fellowship will be great! My Pastor's son is taking me out, and he's like a brother to me. We're hunting on his girlfriend's family land out past Fayetteville, they say the field is awesome. All of them limited quickly last weekend. If I can get a dozen I'll be thrilled, haha! Too bad there's a limit on how much your gun can hold... I'd love to use my semi-auto 930 that holds 13 rds, lol! Depending on how this goes, I may try to get a more proper semi for next year. Anywho, I'll let you know how it goes! When does turkey season start? I've already got the itch for more, and I haven't even gotten out there yet! I've got my bag and bucket packed and set by the door already, and all my camo set out. Haha! I'm such a dork, and SO excited!

Gitchoo a padded electric guitar bag. People just think I keep a Les Paul in my trunk at all times... ya know... in case the zombie apocalypse happens and we need theme music. ;-)

Shield. Just do it. Sounds like you're already familiar and leaning that way. I won't deny the XDs is also a great option. I'm just a Smithaholic. In the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger "Come OOONNNNN!!!! DO IT!!!"

I'm reading these threads because I'm going on my very first dove hunt this weekend (first hunt of ANY type, actually) and am looking for general tips on gear, tactics, etc. Then I see all this sappy garbage about Luke E and I just had to stop it to say.... yea. He's pretty awesome! He's definitely done more for me than I could ever do for him, and with no desire for anything for himself. And his friend Tim is great as well. Some of the best folks on the board, and a really great asset to TGO and the firearms community in general. Kudos to Luke! Back to your regularly scheduled hunting discussion- Just got a 12g 870 yesterday and my bucket w/rotating seat-lid thingy. Got a nice backpack full of 200 shells (hope to get a couple birds, lol!) I can't wait!!!