Screwball

I was going over there with a relative, who lives around the corner... but also was dead set on joining. That full lot, with people parking on the side of the road, completely turned someone away, who was ready to sign up. And to be honest, I really couldn’t come up with an excuse for the situation... even after passing along the ROC schedule to them. Sorry, but hard to argue when they are shelling out $400 for a membership that they can’t get to shoot on a Sunday.

There are little things that make it crappy, like the handguard on mine walked forward (not a hard fix), but it is a nice take on the 1887/1901. Definitely have to take it apart to clean it. I picked mine up at Oaks for just a few dollars more, including tax/NICS. Can load up seven rounds easily... five in the tube, one on the lifter, and one in the chamber.

Walmart just announced all assault rifle looking airsoft guns are being dropped...

You mean they are making it harder to buy a gun from them? Like me not being able because I have a middle name on my FID, and no middle name/initial on my license? And how they lectured me that I should get that fixed because it will never work... like it didn’t work 40ish times before/after? They also turned someone away because their license says Oakhurst, and the FID says Ocean Township... both with the same zip. Guy at the counter knew it is correct, but store policy won’t allow a transaction to be done. Screw them! Dick’s is probably the last place I’d go into looking to buy a gun or ammo. The plastic locked box is too much of a sign that says gun owner, that they might as well make you where a hat saying the same. If I don’t buy online or from another local source, I’ll drive down to Cabela’s in Delaware. I might still have a Score Card... never got anything from it, so shredded it after they pulled the crap about my license/FID.

Actually, if the firearm is chambered for .38... it can’t take .357s. They are physically longer so they can’t chamber. So, no .38 really can take a .357. Are there .38 revolvers that a .357 can fit in? Yes, and most likely, a previous owner had the cylinder reamed to allow that (common with some old police guns). Either way, if it doesn’t say .357 on the gun, don’t shoot them.

People can do it, just depending on skill level. I use Rose Action Sports for my shotgun barrel work. He did an awesome job with my Ithaca... The line in the first picture is a reflection of the tail end of the Remington choke tube. And post Robar...

Actually, it is no such thing as non-lethal... Less lethal is accurate, meaning there is more of a chance of a non-life threatening injury compared to life threatening, but the latter isn’t completely taken off the table. Bean bag rounds, for example, can be used in a way people would consider non-lethal... but have that bean bag connect to the skull, and the blunt trauma will very likely kill someone. A taser isn’t designed to kill someone, but have someone with a poor cardiovascular condition, it very well could. Reason why they moved from using non-lethal to less lethal as a description. Would I call birdshot less lethal? Kind of on that line that could be argued... but definitely not for birds, though. [emoji6]

In regards to viewers, if it is 30% less... need to decide if that is due to Netflix/streaming services or actually because lack of interest. Whether or not 100,000,000 or 70,000,000 people watched it (numbers are just representative of 30% difference), they are still making money hand over fist. Problem with that is that the comics aren’t finished. The time we are at in the comics is around the 120s. They are at 176, and if I remember correctly, they planned on it going to at least 300 (supposed to be the life of Rick). There is a lot more past the Saviors.

I’m sure it did... mid-season opener, people are going to watch. While it may have been boring, it shows some insight of what goes on in Rick’s head. They started the future stuff earlier in the season, but seeing Rick and his daughter interacting with Eugene... then Negan, obviously there is some questioning on what is being planned and that vision. If you read the comics, Negan isn’t killed at the end of fighting. It sets up where it may follow the comics... but you see the upcoming scenes, he is still telling Negan he is going to kill him. Might not be everyone’s reason for watching, but there is a point behind it.

RSO shot out lights with a Shockwave/TAC-14, and now they are banned... doesn’t that sound pretty similar to this AR15 crap since Florida? Don’t know what turns me off more... a rule written in such a way that they make the firearm in question seem SO terrible (I own one, and while their role is limited, it isn’t like you have a 5’ spread at 25 yards), or that someone in charge of safety there did it. We all make mistakes, but really? Is the RSO still working? They are definitely allowed to make their own rules, but that one just wouldn’t sit right with me. If they said due to inconsistency of grip, or difficulty with sighting... I would even post (valid criticism that can be argued). Spread is not much different than any other shotgun...

So, can’t even shoot slugs? Don’t really understand that, as if that is your argument, just ban all shotguns. I haven’t seen those firearms patterning too extreme, even at 25 yards. Good to know. One of my relatives might be signing up there... so if I go as a guest, I’ll remember not to bring my TAC-14.

We also pass it along to customers, but we don’t use them unless it is warranted. We keep two tools in the shop, and only three of our technicians have them on their truck (like the one pictured; others are the large and small gun-like tools). I’ve watched the video at Ferguson comparing the machine to solder, but unless it is an emergency or dealing with constant water, solder is more economic currently. When the tools/fittings come down more, then it will be different. When we first got into them for smaller stuff, I had to install a filter at my parents house (well casing was going bad, and needed to keep stuff from going into the conditioning system). Didn’t really want to do it, as I’m not a fan of soldering (one of our guys was teaching me a few years back, lit torch with a lighter, which blew up in my face because he tossed it on top of the heater I was soldering in; I do it, just rather not). Had one of the guys come in that put in like 10 different 1.25” ProPress fittings. My boss never charges family, but I pulled the guy aside and said he probably used like $200+ in parts. Looked at me and said that at least they won’t ask him to do stuff like that again... I know that we made the money back on the larger tool within the third or fourth 2” line that blew... and the accessories (larger clamps, AC adapter, cast-cutter) were paid for quickly after doing stuff over 2”.

Fittings aren’t that cheap, either.

Just like call Trump a tyrant, then demand he take guns from the people... [emoji106]

I liked them for being a Liberty Safe dealer... where I got my Fatboy, Jr from. Went there fall of 2016, being my fiancé wanted to buy me a smaller overflow safe. Was dead, with nothing there (like capt14k, I like surplus rifles... so I would see something good that most shooters would judge as junk). Did get some Liberty catalogs, in case we were going to order one. Ended up going to Cabela’s in Delaware. I did buy a Garand at a decent price from them, but that was probably around the Newtown shooting. Absolutely nothing was in that store that was for sale... had other Garands and a few crappy ARs, but all were sold. Seeing a pattern in regards to inventory. I do like supporting NJ businesses, but they never came off as a great place. Even that Garand I bought, the salesman tried to say it was a rare Danish build... on a Lithgow receiver. Knowing about the receivers (Century build), I added up the price of the parts, which the one I really wanted was the brand new VAR barrel... and it was worth the price I paid. Sent it to Shuff’s, and he confirmed the receiver was good to go. So, I got lucky that I had a working rifle at a pile of parts price. Even if they were a great shop, I probably wouldn’t go there too much... my ex lives right across the street.

I’ve heard good things about AA kits. Don’t think they offer the 30 kit anymore, so no interest on my end passed that. I used to be big with .22 kits. My Beretta 92 Brigadier Inox used to have a Ciener kit (also have a 96G Centurion slide to convert to .40), which was pretty accurate. Only problem was I didn’t like losing the safety/decocker. After I got rid of that (Ciener kit sold for what I paid for it, and quickly), I looked at a few different conversions... but the closest one I got to was for the SIG P228. There is a guy making 3D printed magazine that work with the slide lock, so I was very interested. For me, I want a conversion to work pretty damn close to the regular firearm... preferably identically. But I heard a lot of issues about the conversion kit and reliability. I really don’t want a kit strictly just to practice malfunctions. The best .22 kit that I have found is the CZ Kadet kit. Accurate, and extremely reliable. I was a little turned off when I bought my SP-01, and find out the price, but most people raved about them. Had Tom at HGW fit it to my gun, and he told me to run it by him if I ever decide to sell it. Said he was extremely impressed with it. Never saw a review that said anything different from that. In regards to the original question... kit or .22 gun? I’d say it depends on what you want it for. For light use, a conversion does keep you from going for a permit. But the problem I had with my Beretta (other than the lack of a decocker) was that if someone is shooting my frame with the .22 slide... I can’t shoot my 9mm slide/frame. That is something you’d really have to see if it would bother you. If you were using it as a low cost trainer, I’d worry about reliability (no idea on the EAA, shouldn’t be a problem with an AA kit). A dedicated .22 will tend to be more reliable than a conversion... but then you lose out on training with the platform. And from what I’ve heard, stay away from the SIG .22s that copy their classic line. Reliability is similar to their kits, but have heard some horror stories. Ruger (not just the MK line, but the SR-22) and Walther do make some nice .22s. For your situation, I’d actually recommend a Ruger MKIII or MKIV (latter is easier to disassemble/reassemble). They are pretty cheap, but you are getting a pistol that will last your life, as well as the life of your kids. Even the other .22s from Ruger and Walther are still pretty cheap, and not a bad option.

When we just had Hugo, he would pull that stuff a lot. But my girlfriend has him trained to sit before food is placed down, and wait until told it is ok to eat (both of them are like that). Five to ten minutes... if he didn’t touch it, picked it up and back in the container. If she was really worried (missed two meals), she would put a wet food with it (another option we sometimes use was a light splash of chicken/beef broth; low sodium). When we got Emma, he would do it less often... especially when he realized she will eat his. We don’t allow it too often, but if he gives no interest at all, we will allow it (we give him a lot of opportunity to eat, and even bring him back to the bowl a second time; both understand that they eat on our schedule). The next feeding, he will eat it all. They both are extremely active, so not a big deal if one eats more than a single portion. It is rare, but Emma sometimes doesn’t eat it all, and Hugo will finish her. Between the two, Emma eats twice as fast as Hugo, so while they usually are good... we do keep an eye on them. If he is a picky eater, I’d first ask if he is getting food elsewhere. Treats? My boss would give his dogs treats CONSTANTLY! Not only did the dogs go ape-s*** when someone went by the treats, they also didn’t eat as much. Same could be said for people food. I am not that big of a fan of giving dogs people food, especially while we are eating. But we do that more for ourselves than the dogs... as we could put an open pizza on the coffee table that the dogs have access to, and neither will make a move for it (they will stare it down like it was the last thing on earth, but know not to mess with it unless we allow it). We would sometimes get vanilla soft ice cream for them (Sonic or Wendy’s), but after Emma threw it up once, we got those dog ice cream cups. They love it about the same. Our dogs are 40-45 pounds. Emma’s weight is steady, but Hugo can lose weight quickly if he misses multiple meals. We feed them high protein, mainly due to the activity level (we have Whistle trackers, and when I’ve dealt with CS for connection issues, the representative was shocked with the activity levels for both... and she said she has looked at similar info for hundreds of dogs, and the consistency with the higher numbers was a first she had seen). I forget the brand we use, as they are currently in Florida with my fiancé, at a horse show... but was a very good name (not any of those Blue brands, which usually have a lot of recalls/issues). We do keep canned food (again, good name brand), but have really got back to only using it with pills/medication. They are fed one cup in the morning, one cup at night. If we add wet food, usually a can split between them... with the cup. The broth trick, not soggy, but enough to get their attention. When I was younger, we had a yellow lab. Food for him, we had a feeder with a door that he could just eat as need be. While he did well with it, I’d never do that again... considering the weight he was at, but also the odd eating habits. Wouldn’t eat during the day, only when someone was nearby. Never liked it, but it was an age where I didn’t know better... and he was mostly an outside dog.

When I get home, I’ll pull out the form that had my results for the NJSP test. To score one point, I’m pretty sure you had to do 17 or so. Then, you gained points as you do more... which go to your cumulative score (would need to rack up 19 points on the other three parts). I do remember a handful of applicant numbers called out after both the push-ups and sit-ups... which were applicants that didn’t make the one point minimum. Were asked if they wanted to continue for practice, which most did. They didn’t call them out again, but remember one near me not doing too well when he continued. You see a lot of applicants in great shape, who blow past you in the run, and then you see some that couldn’t even complete the test. I felt bad for them, but I never went into a PT test without knowing what was required to pass. Poor preparation isn’t really an excuse.

Not sure about the vertical jump in DOC, but know there isn’t one in NJSP. The Monmouth County Chief’s Test does a vertical... multiple attempts, but once you score above the requirement, you are done. To be honest, if she did it once in the past year or so... it is going to be the same as that one. Things like that really don’t change unless there is a big movement within the agency (usually, a lawsuit). When I took a few of the Chief’s Tests over the past few years, they first mirrored the NJSP test. When Monmouth County got their CALEA accreditation, there were a few differences with tests over the years around that time. Sprints were swapped out for pull-ups one year. Vertical jump used to be a slap on the gym wall, went away, and then they started using those markers that were adjusted for your height. Push-ups and sit-ups were always there for any PT test I’ve done, and the 1.5 mile run is a usual thing. Maybe tell her to look into Federal DOC. If their initial PT test is anything like CBP, she should be good. They do it via a recording at a occupational health center, and the recording I got was already out of date. You have to do push-ups/sit-ups within a minute... and even the website says you must do 10/12, but get more points towards the final score by doing more. NOPE! People have complained enough that you do your 10/12, and the administrator will not allow you to do anymore. Could get you unprepared for the next section. I will say for as stupid as it sounds, their step test really kicks the hell out of you. They do a 120 beat per minute cadence, “up, up, down, down.” Step height was different between CBP and Border Patrol, but 10 or 12 inches (forget which). Problem is that it is done for five minutes straight... and after about two minutes, your leg starts to tell you no. Can switch which leg goes first, but cannot lose step or get out of cadence for more than one full set... or you fail. Similar issue... you get people that think they are good to go with 10/12 within a minute, and they drop out of FLETC quick, IF they weren’t told to get in shape beforehand. I actually was more happy with Border Patrol still doing a second PT, just before FLETC, where you do a common PT test (normal aspects, including the 1.5 mile). CBP used to do a second PT, which I guess that went with the extra push-ups/sit-ups. But they also go to different FLETCs. I definitely wouldn’t want to tell the girl not to show interest in Corrections. It is a great job, with awesome pay, and a huge need for female recruits (only two downsides... locked in with inmates and forced overtime if someone calls out sick and you have least seniority). But if she can’t do push-ups, and has no desire to even get to the point where she could pass the PT test, she is wasting her time. I was in the position to hear a lot of applicants give their perspective on PT... and I can guarantee that any that just acted like it wasn’t important, none are in the position that they were trying out for, unless they tried again afterwards and got their head in the game. When I was first applying, a coworker of my parents (happen to be a girl), was boasting about her upcoming PT test for Ocean County. Talked to her for a few minutes, and realized she had no idea what she was attempting... as in she didn’t even read the requirements. Was also very arrogant about it, so left it alone. A few weeks later, was talking to another worker, and she walked past. Mentioned I was going to ask how she did... was told she really wasn’t interested in L/E, so didn’t complete it. These tests aren’t bad... so either she didn’t pass and was embarrassed, or did so poorly that instructors went off on her for not being prepared. Positions like that are pretty competitive. When I got into the actual NJSP application process, I was on a list with 10,000 people. Moved down to 250ish, since they did overflows (a lot of withdrawals happened in the first week, so they had extra people to put in to refill the barracks early on; wanted to get better than 50% graduating). If she has friends telling her it is easy, either she is misunderstanding them or they are a crappy set of friends. A state L/E organization CANNOT hold a test for hiring, and not enforce a requirement. Not only does that open them up for lawsuits from those who weren’t picked, they are placing people into a position, which the taxpayers cover the background investigations, and the likelihood of them failing the academy is pretty high. I mean, people that pass the PT tests don’t all make it to graduation. If that ever got out, you’d see the entire academy and hiring staffs being fired. I do feel sorry that you are in that position, but glad you actually are trying to help her. Sometimes, you have to let people make mistakes. At least here, she isn’t going to hurt anything but her pride.

Then you aren’t on a well... you tend to get pin-hole leaks with copper unless you have a very deep well or you have a very good conditioning system. The development I live in originally had copper installed. The guy I work with that has lived there longer than us has been fixing neighbors’ leaks for years. Also the reason why I did PEX, especially knowing we are leaving within the next year (results from the polygraph came back the other day, which I passed, so it isn’t a question of if but when). Only copper in our house is where I needed to put it, per code (out of the gas water heater, where it crosses the vent piping)... and used L for that, instead of M. With the amount of plumbers that work for our company, I’ve seen a lot of stuff fail. We had an 1.5” ProPress coupling made without any teeth, which blew apart a few days after the work was done. I’ve seen McDonald couplings that I was on the original repair cause a leak with a year (watched the guy put it together, but was a manufacturing defect when we compared the old one to other in stock). I don’t see SharkBites failing at a higher rate than anything else. However, I consider them an emergency or a quick fix. How my kitchen is currently set up, the bathroom and kitchen sinks are pretty much right behind one another (offset maybe a foot). When I did the plumbing for the bathroom sink, I still wanted the current kitchen sink to work until we redo the kitchen, next month. So, instead of running two more Ts to cap or put in a coupling, I ran the lines like I would for the bathroom, and put a SharkBite T where the 90 will be. Once I pull the SharkBite, crimp in a 90, and I’m done. Reason why? I prefer something more permanent. Pipes should be secured, but that shoulder that comes out of the fitting is the only thing keeping it together. I rather take that out of the equation... unless I’m coming back to it somewhat soon.

Just need a revolver with a rail... [emoji6] I like it. My fiancé got it for me for my last birthday. Saw it come out, was going to order it, and she wanted a present that I wouldn’t buy myself. I use it a lot with my Glock, but also picked up the adapters for my LCP and P938 (I do have the stick-on one, as well). It’s nice, because you get summaries, and told what you are likely doing wrong for the shot to wonder. I’ve always been big on CT lasers for training, but the MantisX is a very nice tool to have. They put out the groups a couple months back, but I really haven’t followed it past the original announcement. They had mention of some people in the firearms industry being used with the group system. Interested if you guys figure out how to use groups... I’ll actually make it more of a point to use it more than I do.

I would think the NJSP number would be pretty close. Most have a minimum, but unsure if they do the point system like NJSP (could get a max of 28, need 20 to pass; and must score at least 1 point for each component; relay, push-ups, sit-ups, and 1.5 mile run). Not to be a jerk, but she does realize that she will have to do push-ups in the academy? Any of those tests just give a baseline for hiring people that should be able to get into the academy. I forget what the minimum number was for the NJSP when I was in the application process... but I do remember the first PEPP II session I went to, when the instructors bluntly said that the original PT test doesn’t mean s***. One PEPP session (first one I ever did), we did push-ups for about 5 minutes straight (which I’m not saying is a long time). Everyone was in pain, and most of us couldn’t hold ourselves up. That is what those minimum PT tests give the academy to work with. You worry about doing 47 or 49 within a minute, not any more. And that was an introduction to the academy... not the academy. If she doesn’t do push-ups well, start doing them every day until she graduates.

Better than $300+ trip to Robar...

Not a fan of lasers in that role... Being in Florida, I have two handguns with me... both with CT lasers. Only thing is that I only put a few rounds at the range with it on. Do that for two reasons; make sure it still works, and confirm zero. 99% of the time, I use them for dry fire practice. Most of my live fire practice is using sights. If I use the laser, in a defensive situation... great, but not my go-to sighting option. For me, I’m not a big fan of lasers on guns other than handguns. I do have one on my CX4, but was young when I set that up... and just never had the desire to pull it off (the red dot has an EOTech-like reticule, and the LaserMax unit pulsates a dot right in the center). The only laser setup I’d be interested in is an IR laser... but that will be a purchase when I’m out of NJ for good. I’m sure that some people like a laser on a Shockwave/TAC-14, but do I really want to be searching for it? I’ll just hold the gun out like most people do... sort of like there were a stock. Have sights to use, and picked up the vent rib barrel so if something happened to a bead, I’d have a straight plane to use, as well.