Melgamatic

Thanks, lunker, I appreciate the feedback. But, I've already committed to buying this model, and it's what I want. So, I'll see how it goes. I don't know if being a "Talo special edition" affects build quality; can someone explain how Talo Distributing works with the manufacturers to create the special editions? -Dave http://www.taloinc.com/

Success! Tony at TJ was able to find the Talo special version!

Tony was one of the guys that I talked to extensively, but he ended up not being able to find the right gun. I look forward to doing business with him in the future (along with Vinny), but not this time, unfortunately.

I first went to my favorite FFL, and then submitted a request through the website, but it does not appear that any of our sponsors have this revolver in stock, and all the distributors / wholesalers seem to be out of stock, as well. So, asking if anyone has seen one of these on the shelves of their local dealer: Smith & Wesson 629 6.5" barrel 44 magnum (S&W SKU 163638). I'd also take the Talo special edition with the wood grips. Anyone see one? Money and permit burning a hole in my pocket! -Dave

First off, you can't really successfully reload without a chrono. You are just missing one of the most important pieces of reloading data. You need a range where you can go back and forth over the firing line multiple times. You setup the tripod/chrono 6-10' from the firing line, line it up with your eyes, go back, look through the scope/sights, perhaps do it again, shoot a round, need to adjust so you have to touch the chrono again, etc. And then, after 5 shots, you probably want to read through the numbers, etc. Hard to do if you have to wait to cross the firing line... Doing this at a range with serious "line disciple" (eg, Cherry Ridge) will be difficult. Doing it at a range which is safe but has freer rules (eg, Monmouth County, perhaps Ft Dix) is easier.

Think of it this way: I paid you $400 to borrow the rifle for a few months and put a few rounds through it!

Probably won't shoot as well as, say, a DPMS LR-308

You should also borrow a chronograph, because you probably have a velocity you are aiming for. Look at the smoke patterns on the empty brass, see if you get a nice sine-wave shaped marking, which is best. Look for signs of overpressure. Shoot multiple 5-round groups. Try to shoot in consistent conditions. Remember, a 5-10mph crosswind can make a bullet move 1" or more on the target paper at 100yds. So, if you have slightly changing conditions, it can make a great group look bad or a bad group look good. This is how you see people chasing a scope zero around at the range. There is a 5mph wind, they shoot a few shots, move the scope position accordingly, in the meantime the wind has changed just a little (maybe going from 5mph to 10mph, hardly noticeable to a human) and your zero is no longer anywhere near a zero. Check the ballistic charts and see how much wind can affect your groups! A 10mph wind will move a 168gr 308 bullet at 2900fps 0.75in at 100yds and 2.6in at 200yds! A 10mph wind will move a 55gr 223 bullet at 2900fps 1.5in at 100yds and 5.6in at 200yds!! -DAve

Dummy ammo is not ammo. There is no dangerous or destructive aspect, they are incapable of being fired.

What range is that? Is it covered?

LOL! Make sure I'm on the other side, please. It's warm, sunny and much more friendly down there!

I was just in Mexico for 10 days, returning today. It was perfect. No problems, happy people, happy tourists, good food, lots of good drinks, warm sun and every single person I met was friendly. I go every year. I will continue to go, because it is a fantastic place. "Stumble" around drunkenly in most larger cities in NJ or anywhere else and see how often your head gets bashed in. I bet it's a lot more often than in Cancun, or anywhere else in Mexico outside Juarez....

Good guess. Here is the current composition of the 3rd Circuit of the US Court of Appeals: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Court_of_Appeals_for_the_Third_Circuit Carter: 1 Reagan: 1 Clinton: 5 GWBush: 5 Obama: 1 (with one more pending) Judge Jordan who wrote the opinion of the court was appointed by GWBush. The decision is here: http://www.ca3.uscourts.gov/opinarch/092029p.pdf However, a brief reading of the decision makes it clear the situation is complicated, and after reading the actual laws mentioned the one thing that is clear is that this isn't so clear. The bad thing is that this happened to the guy while he was trying to follow the law, and it's not clear what he could have done in the situation to follow the law, other than perhaps refuse to accept his luggage when the airline gave it back to him. The facts/background are sympathetic to the poor guy, but they have to follow the laws of the land (in this case, Federal law, not NJ law).

I've eaten there! Very very good!

I understand this feeling, and I'm not criticizing. However, in my opinion, I am willing to pay more to a store that is willing to put out the capital to have an enormous selection of product. Many people shop locally, and then buy on the web, or from a discount store, and this is one of the reasons local stores go out of business, or don't carry a lot of inventory. I am willing to pay more to a store who is willing to show me a big inventory. (I feel this way about NJ Firearms Guild; when I bought my Kimber they have over 10 Kimber 1911 models, including 5 or 6 custom shop models. I paid perhaps $100 more than some other stores, but I was able to compare, in my hands, 10 different versions). I used to do a lot of auto racing, and the same thing happened with helmets. The few local dealers that would carry a bunch of models of racing certified helmets (with Snell SA certs, not the Snell M motorcycle certs) in different sizes had a terrible time with window shoppers. Guys would come in, try a bunch of models and sizes, and then go home and order the helmet over the internet. Eventually it became hard to ever try anything on, because no one stocked anymore. Finally, the racing community realized what was happening, and now when a newbie asks on a forum where to buy helmets, we tell them who has them in stock, and tell them to spend the extra 10% and buy where they tried them out. I understand that for many, saving a few bucks is really important, and I respect that, but for me I'd rather support a local dealer who is willing to keep 200-500 handguns in stock so I can try them out, and then I'll return the favor by spending a bit too much.

Done. Direct link to map is http://www.njgunmap.com

As I mentioned in another thread, NJ Firearms Guild is expensive, but they have far more handguns than any of the other stores I've visited in NJ. They had 2-3x what Cheyenne has, a lot more than BH, etc. They sell near MSRP, but they have a lot.

I disagree. The difference is that you could actually put the combined square footage of half the gun stores in NJ into Rays rear gun room, and if you considered the entire store, probably all the gun stores in NJ. Rays had 5 or 6 rows of double sided cases, 20' long, in the middle of the room. They had a 3-tier handgun display case that went around the entire room, probably 75' or more total length. Then all the long guns behind. Rays also had enormously high prices most of the time, but they had a selection that few guns stores in all of the US have...

So guys, the problem with red light cameras is that 1) they are nearly 100% misinstalled, giving tickets when they shouldn't. A NMA survey found that 100% of the red lights with cameras they found had improperly short yellow light periods, significantly increasing accidents, 2) they are run by private companies, so you have government abdicating their responsibility to uphold the law to a profit-based firm, and 3) there is an increased accident rate (almost all rear-end collisions) at every single red light NMA surveyed. So, 1) they are installed incorrectly on purpose to increase revenue, 2) government has improperly ceded the duties to a for profit firm, and 3) they measurably increase dangerous accidents. Check out the NMA / National Motorists Association for more info.

That's funny. I added that to the map after seeing a stapled-up brochure on the bulletin board next to the pistol range at CR. Basically said that if you ran out of ammo at the range, or had a malfunction, they had a store right near by. That's a great gun map story! http://www.njgunmap.com

So, I am not sure applying for 5 permits makes sense with OGAM. The permits are good for 90 days, and it is going to take 30 days per permit, so you need 31 days for 2, 61 days for 3, 91 days for 4, and 121 days for 5. I think the 4th and 5th permits are going to expire before you can use them. I know you can apply for extensions, but that may be terrible in Millburn....

The H&K SL8-6 is NJ legal, and I have one for sale in the classifieds forum if you want to see what it looks like.

In general, longer barrels increase speed but decrease accuracy, up to a point.

In Fanwood, my last pistol purchase permit cost me just $2. This time, around 2 weeks ago, I submitted my form (STS-033 from the NJSP website, nice interactive PDF form), and Sgt Jedic told me to keep the $2, and he would call me. Last week, he called and left a message that I need the $2, an $18 money order, and another form. So, I guess the process has changed between my permits, or maybe they did it wrong last time. What form (BG check form?) goes along with the $18, and is that available online? -Dave