High Exposure

This is pretty cool if you are into the Multicam look: https://www.blueforcegear.com/multicm-tropic-gun-painting?tm_campaign=Sponge-Painted+Camo+Gun&tm_keyword=J6nhi7zd5XDBvVqYsgZo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Email+Marketing+&utm_term=guide+here&utm_keyword=Sponge-Painted+Camo+Gun&utm_source=Tactical%20Tips

Excellent! I believe we have found the new NJ CCW Qualification course. Let's call Fat Boy and let him know. Did Yeager send you here?

Ha!

I think AR barrel manufacturers recommend a complicated "break in" routine because people expect that for "precision" barrels. It adds false credibility to the high prices and accuracy claims made by the manufacturer whether it is necessary or not. It makes the purchaser feel better about the $$ they just dropped. "I had to follow the break in instructions. It must be a super high quality barrel and worth the extra money!"

Eveyone has to start somewhere. So where do we draw the line and more importantly, who gets to judge? If I am in a gunfight or involved in something where my gun is out, and I see a fellow cop or CCW holder with their gun out, my first hope is that they are a better shot, a better tactician, and better trained than I am. So, then, if it was up to me, my training level would be the lowest allowed to carry - which isn't right and shouldn't be the benchmark. Do we restrict carry to IPSC or IDPA master level shooters and above? I wouldn't make that cut. How about only folks who can shoot 200 or higher on a bullseye course? 50/50 if I would make this. So then, what are the mandatory minimum performance requirements necessary to be competent enough to protect yourself with a firearm? How do you measure them?

I like KKM barrels. They are the best drop in barrels I have used. BarSto makes good barrels, but they have to fit the barrel to the gun - so you have to send your pistol to them. They are also $$ - probably 1/2 to 2/3 of what you are likely paying for the gun alone. Make sure you get a "conversion" barrel and NOT a stock/standard/OEM 9mm barrel. The conversion barrel keeps the outside diameter of the 9mm barrel the same as it would be for a .40 (looks like a bull barrel) so you get a more consistent lockup between the slide and barrel. Using an OEM or standard 9mm barrel introduces a lot of play into the system. It's a Glock, not a sniper rifle. The gun is capable of better accuracy than most shooters are, but it's not designed for bullseye shooting. Figure the gun can group better than 2"-3" at 25 yards if you can.

It's an AR. Don't get wrapped around the axle with this. Just shoot it and have fun. I have never "broken in" an AR barrel.

It's a Glock. It is a affordable, and will go bang when you need it to. I think that the G23/19 is the perfect sized handgun. Big enough to be a good defensive/fighting gun and small enough to carry all the time relatively easily and comfortably. The nice thing about the G23 is you can buy a 9mm conversion barrel and some 9mm mags and shoot both .40 and 9mm. (You can't buy the 9mm and shoot .40). I believe that if you are only going to own one Glock, the G23 is the right one to own. Since it is a police trade in you should replace a few small parts to ensure reliability. You don't know how much (or how little) it was shot: Recoil spring assembly Trigger spring Striker spring Firing pin safety plunger spring Magazine springs The above parts should cost less than $25 from Midway or Brownells and you can find plenty of YouTube videos that will show you how to replace them.

Honestly, I wish he was around a bit longer. I had some stuff to share that contradicts his idiocy. http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2016/02/15/concealed-carry-permits-help-police-officers-and-civilians-stay-in-fight.html?intcmp=ob_article_sidebar_video&intcmp=obnetwork More at the link. I hope everyone knows that AK does not represent the beliefs or attitude of a vast majority of cops - Most cops are pro 2A and pro citizen carry. I also have serious doubts that he was a LEO based on some of his choices in words. I agree that training is important. I wish that every gun owner did attend training classes for their own personal improvement and from a sense of wanting to be a better shooter/gun owner/protector tomorrow than they were yesterday - not to check a box on some bureaucrat's list of what he thinks you need to learn and it definitely shouldn't be a requirement in order to own/carry a gun.

I have the CompTac, but there really isn't a difference that I can see. I got it because it was in stock and the Crossbreed had a wait.

When you can get holsters of much higher overall quality, with a more user friendly and effective retention system, are just as fast in the drawstroke, and can be found at a similar price, I can't understand why anyone would buy or use a SERPA. It boggles my mind. I was issued one. I cut it up and chucked it and bought myself and ALS. Maks, I do not understand the need to defend them. Training is great, I agree. But, unless it is issued and mandatory equipment, why spend time and energy training on a particular drawstroke, so as not to shoot yourself, where there are so many other things to spend time and energy training on - not to mention the failure and jamming issues. I refuse to train specific techniques in order to safely use inferior equipment when I can buy quality gear at a similar price. Why set yourself up for failure? Why settle for inferior gear? Why aspire for mediocre performance? Say there was a holster that required a very specific motion and technique in order to get the gun out smoothly, where if you did not complete the drawstroke perfectly it could add seconds to your drawstroke. Would you buy that holster and spend time training that drawstroke or would you just buy a different holster?

Many people focus solely on the ND issue with the SERPA. That's is only a part of the problem I have with this holster. My biggest problem isn't so much the NDs - which is a legit issue with all handguns - but the fact that the SERPAs can lock up badly, trapping the gun in the holster. I have seen if quite few times. Once I had to take a pair of tin snips and cut the gun out of the holster. I have also seen the holster fail at the belt attachment during a gun grab during weapons retention training giving the attacker full control of the gun. Bad juju.

Neither. They are the devil

I don't think Apple should do it. I fear the continued undermining of our rights much more than I fear any terrorists. Yeah, occasionally the choices you need to make to ensure freedom reigns can suck, but it isn't worth squandering to defend against savages. If we do, they win.... On the other hand, killing more savages is totally acceptable.

Excellent. All is right with the world again.

Impossible. Revolvers never break. They say so on the Interwebs. Every time I say I have seen broken wheel guns I am shouted down and called a liar.

I think that's reasonable and a believable reaction. The hard part is going to be fighting human physiology and psychology post traumatic incident and actually keeping your mouth shut.

AK, you are correct. Use of force and weapon retention are two glaring omissions from my quick tick list of "wishful thinking" training that every gun carrying American had under their belt. They were not purposeful omissions. Keep in mind the LEO use of force and Citizen use of force are two different balls of wax. There is some overlap, but there are some pretty significant differences as well. They also vary from state to state and even city to city. That being said, have you looked at what some of the cops that you know consider "quality" off duty retention holsters? How many officers train in weapon retention and use of force, or any of the other areas I listed above, outside the agency training they are mandated to attend. You talk about LCD? Look at some of our brother cops first and how they approach training. That's not a dig, it's reality. Like most employees in most jobs, they do enough to pass or meet the standard, nothing more. There is little drive to excel or to surpass the minimum standard. As far as self loathing - not an iota of it. As I said above, I love my job. I love what I do and I am pretty damned good at it. I also work hard to uphold the oath I took when I received my shield 13 years ago. Sometimes that involves taking a hard look at some ugly truths. It also involves being honest about our profession and where we need to improve. If you care to look around this forum, you will see that I regularly go head to head with members here defending cops, explaining Use of a Force issues, refuting claims of "militarization" and "excessive force" or the erroneous belief that cops have to follow "Rules of Emgagement" v constitutionally approved use of force policies. I also understand that sometimes cops are wrong or make mistakes and I freely admit that here as well when I beleive it is warranted. I understand the sentiment. I agree that no one is "above" the law. However, in all professions there are lawful exceptions to regulations. In NJ, the law is written to give LEOs permission to carry a firearm. I did not write the law and I don't agree with the restrictions on CCW as codified in NJ. That doesn't mean I won't carry if I am permitted to and you are not. I wish everyone that wanted to carry could. I support that 100%. That doesn't mean that LEOs shouldn't if the law allows. Keep in mind, I carry off duty to protect you and your family as much as my own. If the balloon goes up, I will react to help as many people as possible. As a thought exercise: As we are all proponents of 2A here, cop and citizen alike, should we work to eliminate the laws that allow cops to carry? Or to enact legislation that allows everyone to carry? FYI: I know a lot of cops that don't carry off duty. I also know a lot of cops that retire and choose not to carry. It is what it is. ETA: Shane is correct. After 75 no carry for retired LEOs. That's till leaves ~ 20 years of retired carry for most cops.

AK, I agree with some of what you are saying. A trained person carrying a gun is more effective than an untrained one. Buying a gun doesn't make you a gunfighter any more than buying a guitar makes you Eric Clapton. I believe in training. I train often with reputable people - Pat Rogers, Kyle Lamb, Joe Reidy, Jeff Gonzales, Spartan Group, Northern Red. I've been to HK, Blackwater, and Academy. I see more citizens at most trainings than I do cops - in our job that is a clue! I wish every person that wanted to carry a gun was trained in marksmanship, gun safety, small unit tactics, first aid, anatomy, ballistics, and gun handling. I wish everyone took firearms training as seriously as I do - especially cops, but they don't. My issue is with making training mandatory for permission to CCW. Once it is a mandatory requirement it can be used to prevent people from exercising their rights. Who determines what classes are approved? Who decides what skills are required? How often must training be required. Just once initially? Annually? Every other year? Once the legislators get involved the training loses its value. A family that can't afford a week at Gunsight or a 3 day class with Pat McNamara should not be prevented from for the ability to protect themselves from the violent predators out there. If you think state sponsored "classes" will have the same training value as a professional instructor, you are nuts. I agree, however cops aren't the only people privy to this info and training - and they shouldn't be. Many citizens attend training in these fields. Many times the classes they are attending have better info and more thorough instruction than the twice annual departmental in-service training given by your firearms training unit. Additionally, the citizens taking these classes are interested in being at the training and are engaged with the course material. They are not just watching the clock and hoping to get out early. As a firearms, tactics, and use of force trainer this statement is absulutly, utterly, 100% false. There is no training that can "perfect" response under stress. Yes, you can condition yourself to anticipate and accept stress. Yes you can train to deal with psychological and physiologic stress responses. You can not "perfect" your response to stress. No way, no how. Again, cops aren't the only people allowed to take the appropriate training to prepare themselves for a deadly force encounter. Correct. There is also more to carrying and using a gun than you can possibly experience while attending your twice annual agency qualifications and use of force refresher training. What do you do for your main stress factor? Have someone actually shoot at you? At most you may get some force on force or some FATS training. I would posit that, if approached with the correct mind set (using proper TTPs with no regard to time or final standings), certain aspects of IDPA, IPSC, or even static and knockdown steel challenge competitions, have more intrinsic practical application than a 60 round Qual course from 25 yards and in, while stationary, and shooting on a Q target. I love my job. I have respect for my people and the work we do. I have seen no anti cop rhetoric here. I see people offering their opinion that what's good for the goose, is good for the gander. Frankly, I don't disagree. I am glad I am permitted to carry, but I know it's not fair. I believe these guys should be able to carry. I also think regular citizens should be allowed to carry as well. Things are tough all over. One in every PD huh? That's funny. I hear there is one in every agency that believes they are more important than the public they protect. That believe that they are a class above the Hoi Polloi. This is a mistake. Decide what you want about me, means nothing. I am no hero to any LCD and my options aren't lionservice to anyone. Many of these "hobbyists" are more knowledgable, more proficient, and spend more time training/practicing in a year than most cops will spend on the range in their careers. My guys have no illusions to their personal ability and what they are capable of with a firearm vs what I am capable of. There are some colleagues that are serious students of the gun, and then some that look at it as no more important than their pen. Most are in- between: proficient but not rock stars and on the border of the conscious incompetence/conscious competence level of achievement. They pass their qual and participate in training. They meet the lowest acceptable standard. They believe if they need to know it/own it then the Dept will give it to them. I have brought civilian instructors in to teach my guys on a few occasions. I have also brought some of my more interested guys to outside training provided by non LEO instructors. They know there are people out there capable of burning them down on the street. As far as your fear of "more guns on the street" - you have been in NJ too long. We are one of a handful of states that prohibit CCW by law abiding citizens to this extent. In almost every other state in this great country regular earth people (Some are mall ninjas, but most are as competent and capable as the majority of LEOs) have the ability to carry guns for self defense. If this was such a huge problem to law enforcement we would hear all about it - we don't. Another clue. Finally, I don't know what world you live in, but how does supporting the second ammendmemt to the U.S.Constitution for all law abiding US citizens make me a disgrace to the shield? You sir have forgotten your oath.

AK, you need to stop. Your remarks are divisive and condescending. You are driving a wedge deeper between police and the people who are typically on our side. This helps no one. Not all cops are death dealing gunfighters. In fact very few of them are. Most cops now have never been in a fight their entire lives, don't know what it is like to be scared, or have their nose pushed in. Hell, many cops don't own any gun except the one they are issued/bought for work and very few carry off duty religiously. There are plenty of instances where cops and citizens screwed the pooch alike. You may not like it but it's true. For every citizen example, I can find a cop example. In fact, here ya go - a valid contradiction to your assertations: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/05/20/18378370-cop-in-ny-shooting-that-left-hostage-dead-faced-split-second-decisions Keep in mind, I am a Sgt at a municipal police agency in Central NJ. I am also assigned to a regional tactical team for the county. I am the head firearms instructor at my agency and on the team, as well as a County Use of Force instructor and Taser instructor. I am also friends with quite a few folks on this forum that aren't LEO but are very pro cop - including Shane, and I regularly shoot competitions with a bunch of folks that post here. I also agree with PK90. If I was going into a gunfight tomorrow, there are plenty of non-cops I would choose to be at my side before many brother officers. Not only do they shoot better, but a lot of them have a better grasp of tactics and Use of Force. Caveat: Most of that is no fault of the officer. Agencies will spend tons of cash and OT on cultural diversity training, community policing, etc... But not one dime extra for firearms, tactics, etc... If cops don't do it on their own, or are lucky enough to get tapped by their agency for advanced or sustainment training, it just doesn't happen. Back to the original topic - It sucks these guys are denied their retired carry privileges. It also sucks that everyone else who is not LEO and wants to carry is denied as well.

L3 bought EoTech around 2005ish if I remember correctly. They are a big company (~50k employees and worth around $13 billion) and sell many other products in the defense (IR and visible lasers, etc) and aerospace fields that aren't plauged with issues. The EO brand may be done, but L3 will keep chugging along. I would have no issues buying other L3 gear and am looking hard at one of their IR/Vis laser units. Personally, I am impressed that L3 took responsibility in this manner. These issues existed before they bought the EO brand. They could have done a dozen slimey things to weasel out of compensating thier customers - both civilians and .gov, but they didn't.

Yup

Don't worry about using padded channel locks to save the castle nut. The castle nut and the receiver end plate shold be replaced if you are installing a new reveiver extension anyway. As others said, Bushamster cuts corners by using some some kind of Loctite instead of staking (Keep in mind, they take other shortcuts as well - keep an eye on your BCG).