ESB

@Mrs. Peel can this be stickied to the top?

Ignoring the Duty To Inform, this is definately going to be used against us CCW holders during the current court hearings. Drinking and randomly shooting a gun out the window does not paint a good picture for CCW holders.

Getting a non-threaded barrel is easy. I'd definitely consider it as having a form of a shroud for #3. The question is does it actually violate #1? If so is there another chassis option that does not have mag holder VFG?

Right, each location will have a different set of Repeater frequencies you can use in your area. You could also just have 2 sets of CHIRP files ready to go and make sure you have the ability to program them quickly in a SHTF situation. Maybe dedicate at least one radio for each location with specific programming, and then when you get there you can re-program the radios you take with you with the programming specific to that location. More expensive radios have the ability to program them via your phone app and BT connection.

Is the front mag holder considered a forward grip? Is that the reason it would be considered AOW? If you were to get a chassis with a pistol brace that did not have front mag holder would it be GTG?

I thought they were illegal too, but I don't see where? Again something with a pistol brace, not a stock.

Something like the Flux Raider for P320 with a pistol brace? https://fluxdefense.com/shop/raider-x

If someone is setting up a repeater, Echolink capability would be cool. Obviously don't count on the EchoLink part during a SHTF situation when internet may be down. https://echolink.org/

I was just thinking for now, we can post up the frequencies and names of the repeaters you can access. Ie: W2NJR [147.285000/+0.600/141.3] Martinsville WB2NQV [147.375000/+0.600/151.4] Cherryville N3MSK [445.725000/-5.000/136.5] Martinsville KQ2H [449.175000/-5.000] Martinsville N3MSK9 [449.575000/-5.000/151.4] Bloomsbury WQWL772 [462.600000/+5.000/D445/D445] WQWL772 [462.625000/+5.000/D445/D445]

Maybe this is something we could setup. Establish a frequency (or frequencies) and check in/monitor times to use during a SHTF situation. Who is interested in participating in something like this?

Government: No one needs a semiautomatic weapon, and no one needs more than 10 rounds of ammo. Also Government: Threat level highest in recent memory. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/fbi-director-issues-warning-about-possible-terror-attack-on-u-s/ss-AA1nzeDl

This is a very good point. It is not like there is a channel/frequency that people are monitering in case of emergencies. And if you do reach someone they may not know how to help. In a SHTF situation, if you are looking for news/updates how will you know the info you are getting from as stranger over the radio is valid and not disinformation? If you have friends and family in the area you want to keep in touch with without cell phones and setup protocols to communicate (ie get on the radio every day at these times) it may be useful. What is the area you need to cover and who do you want to communicate with?

Briefly. Most people say at least $10k so I stopped there. You could also start a local club with dues to pay for the repeater. I guess on the cheap side, you could try to do a 50w mobile unit and big antenna running off of a battery with solar. But you'll want enough batteries to last multiple days of bad weather and then enough solar to charge them back up in a day. Still a couple grand.

After Karina, there where laws passed to prevent the seizure and confiscation of legally owned firearms during an emergency. Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act H. R. 5013 - Disaster Recovery Personal Protection Act of 2006 (known as the Vitter Amendment) H. R. 5441

https://www.reuters.com/technology/cybersecurity/fbi-says-chinese-hackers-preparing-attack-us-infrastructure-2024-04-18/ "An ongoing Chinese hacking campaign known as Volt Typhoon has successfully gained access to numerous American companies in telecommunications, energy, water and other critical sectors, with 23 pipeline operators targeted, FBI Director Christopher Wray said" "China is developing the "ability to physically wreak havoc on our critical infrastructure at a time of its choosing. Its plan is to land low blows against civilian infrastructure to try to induce panic." I think this is actually just an elaborate Chinese marketing campaign to sell more radios and cheap survival gear.

Good. Hopefully they will pay the legal fees when they lose Carry Killer bill and Mag Restriction and AWB ban cases.

Well this didn't age well. Jumped almost $0.30 in a week.

I've been messing around lately trying to figure out the usefulness of hand held radios. Realistically without a repeater expect 0.5-1.0miles in typical terrain (houses, trees, mountains). Unless you have completely unobstructed view and no interference (mountain top to mountain top, over water, etc) , you aren't going to get multiple mile range. Using a repeater, you can probably go up to 25 miles. This really depends on where the repeater is located and if your radio can reach it. Because repeaters are usually on top of mountains with large antennas and lots of power, you can usually be able to hear them. To be able to have 2 way communication with someone your radio needs to be able to reach the repeater. Because they are up higher with larger antenna's it is easier for your radio to reach them at greater distances. For example, you may not be able to reach someone 2 miles away in simplex mode (same channel, direct communication, no repeater), but could talk to them if you use a repeater 10 miles away. The challenge is find repeaters in your area that you and the party you want to communicate with can reach and use. There are many sites that list repeaters: (note that unless you have a digital radio, you cannot use digital repeaters, so just look for FM repeaters. MyGMRS.com (requires payment to get the tone info, but you can use a scanner to find them. see below) RepeaterBook.com - NJ RadioReference.com - NJ ARRL.org (uses RFinder.net) - requires subscription I found the RepeaterBook phone app to actually work well. Unfortunately I've found that they are woefully not up to date. Many either aren't working, aren't used, or even though they should be in range, apparently I am not. Also I have found (by using a scanner) that there are many that aren't even listed. The best way I've found to see what is actually in range is to use a good scanner (a real one, not the scanning feature of your Baofeng). You will need one that can detect CTSS/DCS tones. Repeaters use these codes to open up the channel and rebroadcast your input. Without these codes, even if you transmit on their input frequencies they will not repeat. Basically in order to use a repeater, you need to know their transmit (TX) frequency, receive frequency (RX, usually listed as either a + or - offset from the the repeaters transmit frequency), and their RX CTSS Tone or DCS Code. Some repeaters do not use tones or codes and so their tone/code will be listed as CSQ. Once you find the repeaters and their receive offset and tones, you can program them in your radio with the CHIRP (or similar) software.

How does obtaining a GMRS license let you know what people are doing? What is your plan?

Shop Rite has Campbell's Chunky on sale for $1ea (6 for $6 with digital coupon, limit 6 cans at this price), and after the first 6 cans they are $2ea (Normally $3.49ea).

Get a ~$100 Uniden Bearcat scanner to find conversations on the airwaves. Program that frequency into your Baofeng in frequency mode and you can talk back. FYI, they may not respond or may chastise you if you do not sound like you have a license. But hopefully in a SHTF situation, they won't be doucheholes.

A good antenna can be more important than power output. Plus power output and range is mostly exaggerated. If you want a decent but cheap (~$25) radio get a Baofeng UV-5R (or whatever is latest version). They have models that are 8 or 10W (not likely, but are probably over 5W though), and have replaceable antenna's. This will be significantly better than your typical GMRS radio, and with a decent antenna and programming can be almost as good as much more expensive radios. Legal notice: IMNAL, but technically they are illegal to use on FRS/GMRS channels because of the power output and swappable antenna. You could technically program the power output to be compliant for each channel, but a swappable antenna is technically not allowed for FRS/GMRS radios. Never heard of anyone getting in trouble using one though. I've also heard that these are illegal for HAM use because they can transmit on UHF and VHF. Again, who is going to know or care (besides the very anal ham operators)? But they are in common use and would be a good starter UHF/VHF radio before sinking a ton of money into pro grade radios. You could legally use them on MERS channels with good results. Again, these will be significantly better than your typical GMRS radio, and with a decent antenna and programming can be almost as good as much more expensive radios.

I did this for about a year and a half in my EDC. I noticed that some of them had bullet setback. They were pushed so far back that you could not see the crimp marks anymore. I disposed of those and then shot the rest at the range with no issues at all. I'll probably do this once a year from now on and just buy a new box to replace them. $25/year isn't so bad for piece of mind.

I carry Underwood Extreme Defender for a short barrel micro .380. Based on reviews on different ammo types for my specific gun, this was suggested as the recommended ammo as most HP will not expand in a .short barrel .380. This gets you the penetration you need but also provides a large wound tract (compared to other options for my gun). https://underwoodammo.com/380-acp-68gr.-xtreme-defender-platinum-edition-solid-monolithic-hunting-self-defense-ammo/