Melgamatic

Dick's is attached to the mall (you can enter the mall from Dick's, although I've never wanted to do that), all the way at the far end of the mall, as far from Rt 1 as you can go. If you go down Woodbridge Center Drive SE from Rt 1, you can see the mall on your left, and it's the very last part of the mall, probably 3 traffic lights (all of which turn into the mall) down from Rt 1. (It's not actually Rt 1/9 at this point; Rt 1/9 splits just north of the mall). The address is: 366 Woodbridge Ctr, Woodbridge, NJ? - (732) 621-8400? Google map url: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source= ... 35963&z=15 -Melgamatic

I bought three cases of 223 from the Dick's in Woodbridge a week ago, got the case price three times, and the guy would have sold me as much as I wanted, so either it's a very new policy or not in force in Woodbridge. (I also just got a 1000 round case of PMC Bronze 223 for $394 delivered from LTD Ammo this week)... -Melgamatic

I understand, and I agree that it's probably "best" to just go along. On the other hand, none of the questions he's being asked in the addition form are even remotely required for any kind of criminal background check (or credit, or financial, or domestic violence check, for that matter). Everything they need to perform a comprehensive check is on the state-mandated form. I understand they can just bully you around, and you sorta need to suck it up, but it just stinks.

Tony Giacobbe, the "Garand Guy" listed above, is well-known M1 expert. He built mine, which is a true work of craftsmanship, and has refurbished 100's of others. He knows them as well as anyone. He is in Rahway, near the TPK and the GSP, and he is also a very nice guy. My buddy is about to buy his M1 from Tony in the next week or two. -Melgamatic

Actually, I believe the law states that you must have an FID to buy HANDGUN ammo. You can buy rifle ammo without one. HOWEVER, more and more stores are now requiring FID for all ammo purchases to cover their asses. Dick's requires FID for all ammo purchases, at least the one in Woodbridge. The more normal shooting sports stores in the state generally sell rifle ammo without the FID.

They generally go for MSRP. I haven't seen any priced above MSRP, and not many priced below lately. Note that sometimes the models of a gun which are legal in NJ are on the higher end of a model range. For example, the S&W MP-15 comes in around 8 models, and as far as I can tell the models which are legal in NJ are the more expensive ones. SOOOOO, what exactly is going to be "on sale" at the BA? Any models or brand information?

My other hobby is racing (moderately expensive) race cars. Those of us who are happily married and still remain active at the track either have wives that also enjoy race cars, or wives who are happy to have husbands with hobbies that make them happy. My wife is of the second category. She doesn't particularly care for (or particularly dislike, for that matter) race cars or guns, but is happy to see my enjoying a hobby. My hobbies don't get in the way (too often) of quality time with her and my son, and don't take away money that we need for retirement or for the bills, so she's happy that I'm having fun. Similarly, when she (very, very rarely) wants to spend some money on a hobby or project of hers, I don't give her a hard time. If your spouse is going to begrudge you hobbies which shouldn't otherwise affect the quality of your lives together, it may be a warning sign. Do you really want to spend time with someone who can't be happy that you are having fun or enjoy something, even if they themselves don't enjoy it? There are a few guys at the track like this. They talk about having to hide their purchases for their cars, about getting yelled at for going to the race track for a day, etc, and they are generally miserable guys. Some eventually get divorced, some just accept their woeful lot in life, but they're all not happy. I don't think you need to find someone who also enjoys shooting, you just need to find someone who doesn't mind that you enjoy shooting. -Melgamatic

We had lunch together, and I think we'll end up transferring it to me via two FFL's and one of my pistol purchase permits. That way I can keep it and use it as I wish, and since the only time he'll go to my club in NJ to shoot is with me, we'll be within the usage laws. It's an H&K USP 40cal, so it's a very nice gun which I'll be able to use anytime I want, so giving up one of my current PP's to acquire "ownership" is probably reasonable. -Melgamatic

Hm, not sure that helps. In this case, his possession is legal in VA, not in NJ, but he's transferring "control" (but not ownership) of the gun to someone whose possession is not legal in VA but legal in NJ.... Which clause did you think would specifically help? Thanks, Melgamatic

Here's the situation: A close friend at work here in NYC owns a handgun legally in VA, where his parents live. He has all the necessary VA permits, bought the handgun legally, but cannot own it in his NYC apartment, so he just leaves it in his parents' house in VA. Since I live in NJ, and go to the range all the time, we figured it would be great if he "loaned" it to me, I kept it in NJ with my guns, and if he wanted to go to the range with me I could bring it along and shoot it legally, since I have the NJ FID card. He doesn't want to sell it, he may someday live somewhere where he can have it with him again, and he likes it. So, he just wants me to hold onto it for him. Sounds simple, but what rules are we breaking? If we can do it, how does he transport it from VA to NJ? He can legally have it in VA, but not in NJ, so does he need to mail it to me? The original idea was simple, but I'm worried that gun laws make it difficult in practice. -Melgamatic

Plus, my delinquent buddy, who knows me well but does not appreciate firearms, calls me and says "Is it significant that I'm getting your recommendation to buy assault weapons on the 10th anniversary of Columbine?" Oops. I didn't bother to explain that they were pistol purchase permits and not AW permits....

This questioning was in NJ????? Can they add requirements to the state law?

Related to the transporting firearms in NJ, I have a question. Assuming that your ammo is locked in a separate ammo container, separate from the guns, is it ok to have ammo loaded into magazines in your car? In other words, do I need to transport my ammo loose or in boxes (within the locked container), or can I load up a mess of magazines at home and transport those in the locked container? I figured as long as the ammo was locked it didn't matter, but a friend of mine thinks that ammo in a magazine in the car, even locked, is a no-no. -Melgamatic

I transport my firearms only in vehicles without trunks. Between my three cars, and my buddy's two cars, we don't have a separate lockable trunk between us. I put a trigger lock on each firearm, and lock the ammunition in a locked surplus ammo box (purchased from AmmoLock; I'm going to buy their kits for my other boxes too). My buddy does not lock his firearms, but does have all the ammo in a locked plastic ammo box. In the pickup, we stuff all the stuff behind the seats, except for the two ammo boxes which are in the bed of the truck. In the big SUV, it's all at the back of the luggage area. In my little compact, the ammo and most firearms in soft cases are in the hatch, but rifles in hard cases are on the back seat. -Melgamatic

My friends have a very good relationship with our township PD, and they told us that the NJ State domestic violence records search is what holds up their permit processing. My buddy's last handgun purchase permits came in around 35 days, with fast reference returns. One of my references just asked me if it was important that he sent it back (duh! last time I use him), so I'm probably going to end up taking more time. I applied on 4/18/09 for 2 purchase permits, so I'm at ~17 days....

Title 2C defines Criminal Offenses, and "Simple Assault" is listed there in 2C:12-1. Misdemeanor is just a classification of possible penalty, no? It doesn't ask if you have been convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, etc, it just asks about convictions of criminal offenses. It breaks out disorderly persons offense because they aren't specifically "criminal offenses," it appears to me on reading the code. But, I'm not a lawyer, and although I have watched a lot of lawyer shows on TV, I dunno nothing. I do like this version of the NJ statutes: http://law.onecle.com/new-jersey/2c-the ... index.html -Dave

I own a Benelli Super Nova, 18" 12gauge shotgun purchased last weekend at Tips, and it is NJ legal (and boatloads of fun)!

It's question #18 that is going to catch you: "Have you ever been convicted of a criminal offense that has not been expunged or sealed? To which you're going to have to answer yes. I believe that may give them pause....

Westfield is not in Northern, Central nor South Jersey. Northern is, I'm going to say, above Rt 80. Central is much futher south. Eatontown, Wall, Monmouth County, South Brunswick, Princeton, etc. South is far south, Camden, Atlantic City (central?), pine barrens, all that stuff way down south by the new Motorsports racetrack. Westfield, or all of Union County, isn't anywhere. Where is Newark?

Anthony, I am very appreciative that you're concerned about this. Unfortunately, I don't know who it was, whether a range officer or one of your instructors. It was a slightly heavy middle aged white guy in a GFH polo shirt, but that probably describes half the guys on that block in Belleville! I should probably go back and edit my post and instead of saying it was a GFH guy, write that it was "a guy wearing a GFH shirt!" I have heard good things about your training classes, and I'm happy to see you on the forums. I went back to read my comment, hoping I wasn't out of line or too rude. My comment was "the GFH crew were not so nice" is accurate, but I also can see things from the person in the GFH polo shirt's point of view. It's hard to know who is a dangerous moron and who is OK in a crowded range like that. It was really bedlam the 2 times I've been there, and maybe the range officers just can't be nice with a crowded range, half full of people who know what they are doing and half full of untrained large-caliper new pistol owners. On the BulletHole, I visited again earlier this week to see a few long guns. I believe the gentleman who helped me was the patriarch of the family (Manny?) and although not sparklingly friendly, was less brusk than my last few visits, didn't give me any grief about showing me a few guns and answering a few questions, etc. So, it was a step up. It was less crowded when I was there, maybe only 2 or 3 customers, and I think that had a big influence on the friendliness factor. I really think the BH staff gets grumpy after a full day in that little store and when I see them at 7pm or later they've just run out of patience. Between the crowded store, the rush on guns and ammo these days, long hours at a family operated business, and the constant background "pop pop pop" noise from the range they must have mighty headaches by the time they go home. On the good side, they're probably making more money right now than they've made in years, so they have that! The range just isn't my cup of tea, but the BH is slowing growing on me. The fact that I can be there 15 minutes after leaving the Port Authority parking garage in Manhattan is a big plus; stopping by only adds a few minutes to my commute home. -Melgamatic

The clay targets are called "clay pigeons" usually, sometimes "clay targets." Clay target throwers are called "clay target throwers." -Melgamatic

Yes, in general AR-15 style magazines fit all AR-15 style rifles. There are a few brands of rifles which are supposedly picky (early S&W MP-15, for example, although my recent one takes any AR-15 magazine), but in general they all fit each other.

What are BA's store hours? They're not posted on BA's website. -Melgamatic

Yes, closed Mondays! They catch me about every other week!

LOL about the lights. My first time there, a young gangsta-looking but polite man had to come from the range to the register twice to pay for replacement lightbulbs. Apparently they were HI bulbs, so they charged him $12 each time and sent him back to the range. It appeared like this happens frequently enough that they had a item setup in the computerized register for "range lightbulbs." (I'm not sure if they were close to the firing line or not...)