TheWombat

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/texas-police-man-santa-suit-killed-relatives-15237643#.TvnRh9RSR8E http://news.nationalpost.com/2011/12/26/man-in-santa-suit-kills-six-in-dallas-family-himself/ Two hand guns found near bodies - no mention if they were glocks. One of the 7 bodies was the shooter as it was a murder-suicide, hence they know the Santa outfit. very sad. I struggle to understand what can cause someone to take another person's life in this type of way. TheWombat

http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/26/justice/texas-deaths/index.html?hpt=us_c2 More details will be released on Tuesday however currently the story indicates that there are seven bodies -- four female adults and three adult males. They were fatally shot by a man dressed as Santa Claus at a Christmas gathering in their home. While the CNN story does not mention it, elsewhere it is reported that the shooter shot himself after shooting the victims. It appears the shooter and all victims are related by blood/marriage. Tragic news TheWombat

Shooting related, TheWombat received: Ed Brown 1911 (already posted) Bates Tactical boots with side zipper KJW Airsoft Sig P226 - great for trigger practice.. We now have a 15 yard indoor 'range' :-) A few other 'tactical' i.e. black items! MrsWombat received: MiltSparks VM2 holster for her EMP MiltSparks Summer Special for her EMP KJW Airsoft Sig P229 (as they don't make P228's) Kershaw Knife :-) TheWombat

Ok, I've been caught out. I should have put 1. MrsWombat AND Jessica Alba. I'll leave the rest to everyone's imagination! 2. MrsWombat (assuming she still is Mrs after she reads 1. ) Grin MrWombat

1. MrsWombat 2. MrsWombat It's easy when the Mrs is also a gun toting forum member... :-) TheWombat

I took my 9mm PPQ and my .45 1911 to the range yesterday... My bag was bl**dy heavy with the ammunition in it however I did have around 500 rounds in the bag. Once my Sig is back from GrayGuns then for a general range visit I expect I'd take: PPQ - 9mm P226 - 9mm 1911 - .45 P226 conversion kit - .22LR that means carrying 3 different types of ammo and the weight involved. Maybe I should get one of those bags on wheels or just take less ammunition :-) For range visits to focus on defensive shooting, carried shooting, competitive shooting then I'd take the specific firearm in question rather than all of them. TheWombat

My view is that it's not the media that is at fault here, they are just providing a service that (enough) people want. It's the people who want this style of "news entertainment".. There must be enough of them based on the number of trashy magazines being sold in stores, reality shows on TV, etc and the number of people I see hovering around the TVs in the office. TheWombat

As mentioned I have completed both First Steps (at GFH) and Basic Pistol (through somewhere else) during the last 3-4 months. I would totally recommend doing Basic Pistol with GFH rather than First Steps which is much shorter and lighter in content. Both include some range time. Drop GFH an email or call them. They are very responsive at both email and phone. Anthony (GFH) also frequents the forum. The test on the NRA Basic Pistol is straight forward. hth TheWombat

Can you post a picture of your P226 so we can see which grips it has and whether it has a beavertail. This is my P226 USPSA with the standard Sig grips (and has a beaver tail) This is the same gun with the grips replaced with the Sig E2 grips which have are much thinner in terms of diameter Unlike (some of) the Springfields, Walthers, H&Ks the Sig does not have interchangeable grips to make them larger or smaller. So depending on what the firearms had that you picked up they may feel more suitable in your hand. Replacing the standard Sig grips (which are plastic and have screws) to the new slimmer E2 grips is straight forward. You can get the E2 grips from TopGunSupply for about $45. There are plenty of instructions on the Internet on how to do the switch. Most new Sigs are now sold with the E2 grips as standard - with the exception of a few special editions. I find the beavertail on the P226 actually pushes my hand a bit lower than not having the beavertail due to Sig's design and my hand Alternatively you can look at Hogue grips, e.g. the G10s are recommended by many. hth TheWombat

Expect there will be 101 different tips people can give, these are the 8 that I broke it down to when I was just starting.. 1. Strong Stance - lean slightly forward rather than back, i.e. nose is above, or in front of toes) 2. High Grip - grip as high as possible, push the web of your hand up although watch out where the slide/hammer will move to 3. Firm Grip (40:60) - your strong hand (trigger finger hand) should apply 40% of the grip, your weak hand should supply 60% of the grip 4. Front Sight - focus on the front sight rather than rear sight or target 5. Smooth Rearward Roll of Trigger - the shot/bang should come as a surprise 6. Thumbs Forward - it can be good practice to get used to shooting without either thumb resting against the firearm, then when you switch between guns you are less likely to rest on a safety, slide lock lever, decocker etc. 7. Say 'One' 'Two' or breath out just before you shoot. This will reduce the pistols vertical movement. 8. Follow through - once the shot is fired do not release the trigger. Instead bring the sights back onto target and then allow the trigger to release until it resets. Try not to change the your grip between shots (I alas suffer this habit). I have the bold part of the above printed and carry with me in my wallet. Useful as a reminder for myself or for others. My first firearm was a Sig P226, that was 3 months ago. So welcome. I would strongly recommend going to the GunForHire NRA Basic and/or First Steps pistol, it will provide you some of the basics which are much harder to gain from YouTube videos and a chance for an instructor to provide feedback on your technique. You may also want to consider investing in a P226 Airsoft gun (e.g. KJA/KJW) so you can practice at home. The trigger pull, weight, action etc are similar enough for it to be a beneficial training aid. hth TheWombat

Thanks - I expect I'll be over there much more regularly now so sure we will bump into each other! :-) TheWombat

150 flawless rounds shot at RTSP. Overall summary: Trigger is excellent & amazing - difficult to describe other than a very clean and crisp break More recoil and punch than the 9mm PPQ (as expected) but entirely manageable Very accurate. Shooting tight groupings at 10 yards without even trying. Next time will try 15 to 25 yards No failures, jams, etc (using 185gr Lawman and 230gr Federal) Sights are very clear - the Kobra Carry Lightweight has a 10-8 rear sight and a trijicon front unlike the standard Kobra Carry which is 3 dot Single sided safety is very crisp in engaging/disengaging Grip comfort is good, however after 150 rounds I could feel 'it' in the base of my palm of my strong hand Very pleased and can understand why the Ed Brown 1911s have a premium over Kimber etc Will be trying some Speer Gold Dot hollow points on the next visit. :-) TheWombat

I believe you're meant to see a little bit of 'red' where the back of extractor is when the chamber is loaded, irrespective it is one of the few bits of the PPQ that is useless, not that I really use a loaded chamber indicator. If the indicator was like some of the other striker fired handguns then it can be useful, albeit it shouldn't replace the need to manually check where appropriate TheWombat

I'm looking to switch the ambi-safety on MrsWombat's EMP to a single-sided safety. I've never done this before and am new to 1911s. Does anyone have experience on changing 1911 style safeties and how difficult is it? I'd probably use an Ed Brown safety however have read that you need to spend about an hour filing away on the safety? I was thinking of trying it, however another option would be to find a gunsmith. Otherwise any recommendations on a gun-smith within 45 minutes of the Secaucus, NJ area? thanks TheWombat

I would definitely recommend trying the PPQ (over the P99), I think it is an amazing pistol (in 9mm) and seems to be gaining popularity. I am carrying mine and I find the trigger is fine - some people prefer the P99 A/S as it is DA/SA. I decided to go for 3 different styles of firearms with my first permits: Plastic Striker = PPQ Metal Hammer DA/SA = P226 Metal SA = 1911 Commander I will be getting some more permits in the new year, then I have to decide what my next 3 will be :-) hth TheWombat

Cleaning = After every range session irrespective of number of rounds fired Enjoyment = Yes, music on and it's pretty relaxing. I didn't see an option for 'after every range visit' TheWombat

Not sure yet, however will PM you when I know. I'm not too fond of Bayonne and prefer the extra 30 minute drive to get to RTSP! :-) TheWombat

Thanks - just ordered one for the EMP :-) TheWombat

The longest 30 days of my life I think, however today I went to RTSP to pick up my Christmas present.. The initial unveiling! Beautiful! The photos once at home, the fit and finish are fantastic as expected for a premium brand. I'm very happy! MrsWombat picked up her EMP 9mm today, so for size comparison: I will be at RTSP tomorrow to see how smooth the trigger is. According to my scales: The EMP weighs 26.50oz (with an unloaded magazine) The Kobra Carry Lightweight weights 27.85oz (with an unloaded magazine) :-) TheWombat

Afraid I don't have a P99, however plenty of reviews and comparisons exist. I'd suggest checking out the Walther Forum (http://www.waltherforums.com/forum/) in the PPQ and P99 sections where many people have posted who have (or had) both. I would say the reset is short, but as per autonyc I would say it is a little overhyped, the reset though is very good. Unless you specifically want a DA/SA Walther (in which case go for the P99AS) I would recommend going for the PPQ. They can be picked up for around $495 to $550 on the Internet. PK90 has good prices on the PPQ so recommend trying the the NJGunForum supporting vendors when you decide to buy. hth TheWombat

Having thought about this overnight I should probably rephrase my statement from: "I also believe that the majority of civilians who carry (open or concealed) would 'screw up' in a real situation" to "I also believe that more civilians than pro-gun people anticipate who carry (open or concealed) would not react as they had anticipated in a real situation." I'm not quite happy with the rephrased phrasing and the point I am trying to say is that we all as individuals (hopefully) believe we will react appropriately in a situation, hence the reason why we carry (or wish to carry). However when the situation occurs, I think more of us than expected would not react in the way we believe we would before hand. i.e. we would freeze, run away screaming, shoot the wrong people, not react etc. hth TheWombat

Being fairly new to the US (2 years on Thanksgiving weekend) I had always perceived the US as a pro-gun country full of gun toting, gun mad people (sorry everyone!). I was not interested in guns when I arrived and I found the whole concept of civilians feeling they had to arm themselves for defense, or the 'right to bear arms' as an alien concept. Now I've got settled in to the US I own firearms and use them for target practice and soon for competing, so it's more of a hobby. I applied and received my CCWs and will 'carry' when I go to PA over Christmas. I also 'carry' when in the house. Being totally honest neither of these latter two are (currently) due to a strong feeling of need for self-defense, which could at least be partially due to where we live and our lifestyle, however I would feel rather foolish in the event something did happen and I did not have a firearm available. I've found in the office where I work that many people are anti-firearm and it is prudent to not therefore announce my hobby. This is no different to my perspective of not announcing my view on life/abortion, religion/faith/church/etc, mustang/camaro (ok I do announce that one at times). A few friends/colleagues know I have firearms however they are typically either from non-anti gun states or are recent migrants such as myself. I don't wear badges or put stickers on my car for any affiliations/beliefs/viewpoints and never have, I believe in not preaching/forcing my views/beliefs to others out of respect for everyone being allowed their own viewpoint. If in a discussion and if it is appropriate then I do share my viewpoint and that I enjoy shooting however I do respect other people's views including the anti-gun contingent. Then again being recently arrived in the US I don't have the depth of emotion regarding the 2nd Amendment (sorry!) I personally believe that putting NRA, SIG, Glock etc stickers on your vehicle is more likely to increase the risk of your car being broken into. I also believe that (depending where you live) advertising that you have firearms could end up creating a 'neighbor from hell' type mentality where a neighbor could look for the slightest perceived transgression to report to the police. Also, depending if you are home all the time or not, it could increase the risk of a burglary. While many neighbors are not like this I am sure that statistically there are enough that are. While somewhat off-topic, I do not believe that the open-carry YouTube videos (e.g. in Oregon) are helping the cause of having gun-owners being perceived as more responsible than the typical person (and we do need to be), and irrespective of our own viewpoints, there are sufficient firearm related incidents in the news every week (or so it feels) that I can understand why many people could have concerns regarding firearms. It is therefore a fine balance between on one hand being in the closet, and on the other being seen as a gun-prophet/preacher/nut etc, neither extreme particularly helps the broader awareness of responsible gun-ownership. While I don't know what the magic answer is for NJ, if we can at least increase the number of firearms owners e.g. by introducing new people into firearms as a hobby and increasing the number who actively participate in IDPA etc then we are likely to see an increase in gun-owners who see the value in the 'right to carry', and hence over time we could see a shift in perspective. However going straight for the jugular of 'right to carry' means that a significant proportion of the NJ population are not interested or have a negative view.. and hence the politicians are less likely to make it a priority to change. In fact as long as they perceive that more votes can be gained by being anti-gun/carry rather than pro-gun/carry, they will be anti-gun. We can show/preach statistics about how 'right to carry' will reduce crime till we die of old age and we can preach about the 2nd amendment however my personal view is it won't make a difference unless/until the politicians see a benefit in embracing this perspective. I personally do not wear any clothing that announces I may be carrying a firearm, so I do not buy clothing with NRA logos, or tactical pens with Smith & Wesson on them etc. If you are unlucky enough to be involved in an incident it is likely to raise the chance of you being singled out (assuming the perpetrators have familiarity with these things). I do have an NRA hat and a Midway bag, however they are only worn/used at a range. I also believe that the majority of civilians who carry (open or concealed) would 'screw up' in a real situation e.g. shooting at innocents, missing the perpetrators, or shooting the perpetrator when the 'threat' is moving away and no longer a threat, or just making a mess of drawing and either losing their firearm or being shot before they can effectively make use of their firearm. I have no hard evidence for why I have this viewpoint other than some basic psychology and a belief that many people are complacent/c-o-c-k-y and that fear/flight would overwhelm many people. A little more than I had planned to write. hth TheWombat

Based on the original options of Springfield or Glock then I personally found the Springfields to be more comfortable to hold and found I achieved tighter groupings with the Springfield. Ideally find somewhere you can rent both! If other options are a consideration then also check out the Walther PPQ as it comes in .40, although the general consensus on the Walther forum is that it is better as a 9mm. hth TheWombat

I completed my Utah at GunForHire (http://www.gunforhire.com/gun-classes-ccw.html) obviously other places also will do Utah. For Utah you need to attend a 3-4 hour classroom based training. At GFH they do everything for you - i.e. run the course (you have to attend!), take your prints, photos, notary the form, send it to Utah with correct payment etc. The cost if getting your Utah through GFH is $200. MrsWombat and I both received our Utah within about 6 weeks from applying. We also applied for our Florida at the same time. The reason we have both is that they expire at different times (Utah is 5 years, Florida is 7 years IIRC) so you should always be covered by one or other for the majority of states. The coverage is a little different between the two. Can't comment on VA and AZ however these are on my to-do list (just fairly low down in the priorities!) hth TheWombat

And thank you PK90 for helping me in acquiring the PPQ and the Trijicon Night Sights :-) TheWombat