JimB1

Heritage guild usually has a pretty good selection and they are a little more willing to cut a deal on on used guns then new ones. They are way high priced on the Colt Pythons but some of the less well known Colt models they aren't horrible on. Here's a link to their inventory http://www.heritageguild.com/usedguns/ but they are usually behind on what's actually in the store and they seem to shuffle them around between stores pretty often so might be best to just go in and see what they have. I bought my S&W 617 6" from them used and I was able to talk them down a little on the price. I don't think I could have gotten a better deal elsewhere on it and no place around had a 6" 617 new or used so it worked out for me. Never hurts to look... Good luck with the search -Jim

I generally go cheap and utility with a Kershaw 3/4 ton. Works great for everyday stuff with a tough, wide blade and if I lose it it's cheap enough to replace. https://youtu.be/hkiBUDeOzTI I don't see a need to carry around a $200 blade everywhere. -Jim

Haven't been there in a few years but this place was a lot of fun: http://www.parrotmountainandgardens.com/ Also, check out the Memories Theater which has an impersonator show that was worth the money and Dixie Stampede which is a fun night out. Gatlinburg has some nice stuff too. Ripley's Believe it or not museum and there is a car museum as well which is cool. -Jim

No idea if there is a shelf life but my 220 is around 5 years old with regular usage at the range with no issues. They do state in the manual that certain parts are recommended to be replaced at intervals (springs and such). Regular maintenance should help, same as any pistol or rifle. -Jim

They publish a lot of gun mags including "Guns of the Old West", "Tactical Weapons", "Balistic", "Guns and Weapons", and "Combat Handguns". They also publish quite a few non-gun related magazines. I found out because B&N just sent me an email saying the remainder of my subscription to "Guns of the Old West" was being refunded. http://www.foliomag.com/2016/harris-publications-is-shutting-down/ http://www.harris-pub.com/ Sounds like they just couldn't compete with online magazines effectively. Shame, I liked a few of their magazines. Maybe someone else will buy them and get them into the digital market better... Just figured I'd put it out there if anyone has a subscription to any of these. -Jim

Well, don't feel too bad about it, a lot of people are falling for it. At least you are seeing the issues now. If we can only open a few million more eyes we'll be in good shape. BTW, voting is a right as defined in the 15th, 19th, 24th and 26th amendments... Each of them use the same language “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged . . . .” -Jim

Really, it's a matter of percentages? At what percentage will you say it's wrong? 10%? 20%? 30%? Here's a percentage for you, more people are on those lists then are transgendered in this country and we are having a national discussion on what bathrooms people should use. The constitutionality of this isn't even given a few minutes on the national news networks they just spin it to "The evil right wants to keep guns". I do not care how many people aren't allowed to have guns as long as the process to do so is constitutionally acceptable. Do you assume that 3000 citizens on the list are all guilty? So you are good with guilty until proven innocent? I make no mistake to assume that they are all innocent, the law says they are until proof says otherwise. The argument that military and criminals are outside constitutional law is not valid. Military personal are sworn to the military code of conduct and military law as part of their service. They choose to relinquish certain rights and as soon as they are released from service, those rights become valid again. Criminals are restricted from certain rights because of their criminal misdeeds however they do retain most of their rights as citizens they are just restricted from guns and voting. I don't think any other rights are effected for criminals that have served their time (with the possible exception of freedom of travel depending on what their parole says) Even with that, neither one of these is in effect for people on these lists. I agree with you that using the lists is valid, I disagree that we need to tear up the Constitution and the Bill of Rights to do it. -Jim

Well, per the FBI, there are about 107,000 people on the "no fly" list. Of those about 3000 are American citizens so there are 3000 innocent Americans denied the right to travel freely just by being on a list. And yes, in the eyes of the law they are innocent (as far as "true-red-blooded", not sure what that means to you but they are American citizens so that's good enough for me.) Here are 7 Americans named in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU against the United States if you want some specific people: http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/04/06/no.fly.lawsuit/ Far as voting or any other right, I mentioned them to show how poor an idea this is. Once the precident is set that rights can be removed (not limited, removed) without judicial review or due process, no right is safe. Are you on the terrorist watch list? Am I? Neither of us knows for sure and the FBI isn't saying. There are an estimated 800,000 names on that list. Don't ask me why there are 800,000 on the terrorist watch list and only 107,000 on the no fly" list. You'd think if you were a suspected terrorist you'd make both of them but apparently not. Those are just FBI lists, think Homeland security, Justice, the IRS, and the State department don't have additional lists they would love to use for stuff? I do not wear a tinfoil hat but I do know for a fact that once the government has the power to do something, they will and it will be extremely difficult to get them to release that authority. Far as the NRA goes, I am a member but I have a brain and can make my own decisions on things. sometimes I agree with them and sometimes not. In this case, I agree with the ACLUs original assessment of the no-fly list from a few years back and my stance hasn't changed with the new push to expand its use to gun control. It was bad then and its bad now. The NRA is being pulled by strong fringe elements, you have to recognize that and make your own decision if what they are suggesting is the right solution. Of course you can say that about any org ( or political party) at this point in time. Far right and far left groups are dominating all discussions and the middle is being too damned quiet and letting them run the show. With regards to immigration, in a lot of ways I am in agreement with you. We need to slow the influx in order for people to assimilate in to the culture and allow time to ensure they are not here under false pretenses. Instead we have large blocks of people from an area carving out enclaves and trying to bring their culture here. This is a big problem. France has been facing it for decades and Germany is facing it now with massive protests against immigration. I think it is a huge motivator in the EU referendum in the UK right now as well. The US has always had a buffer of an ocean to slow immigration to a manageable level but now we are actively going and getting them so we are losing that ability to assimilate immigrants and that's not even taking into account those that have no intention of assimilating and are coming for other reasons. So back to the gun control thing, I am fine if they want to use lists as long as there are checks and balances in place for their use. Judicial review, limits to how they are used, limits to who can add to the lists, criteria to get on and process to get off, and so on. I will still maintain if you are willing to give up your rights, (Or are you just willing to give up someone else's rights? since obviously a "Red-Blooded American" like yourself would never be added to a list like this... you hope) and allow the government to do this, then yes, you are the problem. Due process and Judicial review have been front and center in every civil rights argument ever, they are necessary to a free and just society. You don't just abandon them in a knee-jerk reaction to a horrifying event. With respect, -Jim

You know, I am not into the AR either. I've tried a few and they just don't do anything for me... -Jim

Voted: 75.11% the senate voted the right way. -Jim

These are two very different scenarios. If you don't see the difference between a tried and convicted criminal or a person adjudicated to be incompetent and a person just put on a list due to some secret criteria then I'm sorry but you are part of the problem. The people on the "no fly" or "terrorist watch" lists have presumably done nothing illegal yet and haven't been charged with anything. No one knows what the criteria for getting on those or other secret lists is and there's no clear path to getting removed from the list. For all we know, everyone that signs onto a gun related forum like this one is on a list somewhere. This is not even a slippery slope argument, this is full free fall into a police state when they can just say " sorry, you can't vote because you are on this list" and "you can't travel because you are on that list" and you have no recourse to do anything about it. At last count there were over 1 million people on secret government lists. Does that mean I want terrorists to have access to guns? Of course not. It means if the FBI has suspicions about these people, get the evidence to convict or deport and take care of the problem. Or do like Cornyn's bill said and flag the sale and make the FBI or Homeland security make a case before a judge to stop the sale. If they can't convince a judge they have enough suspicion about a person, then they should question if the person should be on the list. Even the Patriot act requires a judge to sign off on wire taps and searches, why would we ever want actual revocation of rights to have less protection then that? The people on the list are just suspected of terrorism anyone can be suspected but that doesn't make them guilty. I refuse to allow terrorists to win by having any American lose a single right because of a terrorist action. They have a list, give the FBI the resources to track them down and get proof, that is what the American justice system was built on. JMHO -Jim

+1 frozen funny bones are great! I didn't know they were back either... -Jim

Well, the ACLU has been fighting the Terrorist watch list for at least 5 years and some Dems are actually middle of the road politically. We usually just hear about the far left because they are very vocal. Huff Post does occasionally align to the middle on some items (granted few and far between but even a broken watch is right twice a day). -Jim

I refer you to Alexander Hamiliton Federalist papers #29 From the Daily Advertiser. Thursday, January 10, 1788 "THE power of regulating the militia, and of commanding its services in times of insurrection and invasion are natural incidents to the duties of superintending the common defense, and of watching over the internal peace of the Confederacy. It requires no skill in the science of war to discern that uniformity in the organization and discipline of the militia would be attended with the most beneficial effects, whenever they were called into service for the public defense. It would enable them to discharge the duties of the camp and of the field with mutual intelligence and concert an advantage of peculiar moment in the operations of an army; and it would fit them much sooner to acquire the degree of proficiency in military functions which would be essential to their usefulness. This desirable uniformity can only be accomplished by confiding the regulation of the militia to the direction of the national authority. It is, therefore, with the most evident propriety, that the plan of the convention proposes to empower the Union "to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, RESERVING TO THE STATES RESPECTIVELY THE APPOINTMENT OF THE OFFICERS, AND THE AUTHORITY OF TRAINING THE MILITIA ACCORDING TO THE DISCIPLINE PRESCRIBED BY CONGRESS." Capitalization is as written in the original. Respectfully, -Jim

Another interesting article on the 2nd Amendment. I actually like a lot of his thought process in this one... http://theweek.com/articles/629815/how-alexander-hamilton-solved-americas-gun-problem--228-years-ago Some stuff to think about... -Jim

Here's the US Marine Pistol marksmanship guide: http://www.marines.mil/Portals/59/Publications/MCRP%203-01B%20Pistol%20Marksmanship.pdf It's kind of long but a good read and you can just skip to the parts you want to work on. Biggest help for me was dry fire practice. Also, watch vids on YouTube from a guy called gunblue490. He's a retired police instructor and has 4 or 5 videos on all the basics of shooting. They helped me a lot. https://youtu.be/_wA1txFJzzk There's no substitute for getting on the range and trying out what you learn at home. 22lr works fine for that. I will say, focus on one aspect at a time. For example, When you are working on trigger control, just stay focused on that and don't worry so much about hitting the bullseye, Next time out, work on sight alignment and getting your shots placed where you want them, next time work on natural point of aim exercises and learning body positioning, and so on. Your choice what order to work on them. Also, I see a lot of guys (and I was one of them) taking hundreds of rounds of 22 to the range and blowing though them in an hour or two. Limit yourself to maybe 50 rounds to a training session and make those 50 count. Take them slow and make sure you are really working on what you say you are going to. I've found it's more fun to get 50 rounds in the black at 25 yards over an hour then it is to blow though 50 in a few minutes and have the target that looks like you were using a shotgun at 15 yards. Took me a while to reach that conclusion but that's where I am at now. Natural point of aim exercises are easy to do at home and so are sight alignment. Dry fire helps with trigger control but follow though is part of that and really you can only practice that with at least some recoil. Just what has helped me, hope it helps you out too. -Jim

Link brings me to an optimum online logon... -Jim

I am very wary of super secret government lists being used to deny people rights. The ACLU is absolutely right that it is something that should not be allowed. However, if a person is on a terrorist watch list, there needs to be some flags that go off when it hits the NICS system. Not necessarily to stop the sale but to let the FBI or local law enforcement know the event has occurred and to be aware. At that point, they can get a judge to issue an order so they can watch the suspect more closely. All this is perfectly legal (as long as we are talking about a simple compare between databases and not adding the watch list to the NICS database) and follows the regular processes that law enforcement does every day for other suspected law breakers. They could be doing it today without any new laws being written or any political football to deal with. NICS check comes in, identifying info goes to the FBI and NICS. NICS sends back yes or no, FBI compares to the watch list and sends alert if match is found. Done! Of course this is very focused on terrorist watch lists which is still a tiny minority of the illegal gun uses in the country but you have to start somewhere and this really isn't rocket science. They are making it much more difficult then it needs to be for political purposes and that is the sad part. JMHO -Jim

I am not sure it is inherently safer any more then a da revolver is inherently safer but I think the manual of operation for a da/sa is simpler then say a 1911 style SAO. So maybe simplicity under stress makes it safer for someone who doesn't have a lot of trigger time? Far as a striker fired goes, there are so many different setups, it's tough to say. Pretty much it comes down to training to me... JMHO -Jim

Sucks to hear about your issue but I'm sure Sig will make it right. I've had my standard P220 for a few years now and it's been very good with both the 45 and 22 uppers. I've been working on trigger control a lot lately so last night I had it out with the 22 upper on it and at 25 yards I am pretty consistently in the black (3 or 4 out of 5 rounds) using golden bullets or cci ar tactical (like mini mags but 36 grain copper jacketed round nose). I am not quite so good with the 45 upper but still in a 12x12 standard NRA slow fire 25 yard target with only the occasional flier. This is with Winchester white box or American eagle 230 grain so not using target loads or anything special and it's all stock. I think it can do better but I just am not there yet. I'm not going to win any bullseye tournaments with it but my scores wouldn't be an embarrassment either. For a combat, stock pistol with iron sights, that's good enough accuracy for me. No complaints. Good luck with it, let us know how Sig handles the issue for you. -Jim

I think the $20 off $100 ended but they have free shipping on $100 now. Use this link, it says limit 2 not limit 1 http://www.cabelas.com/product/shooting/ammunition/rimfire-ammunition|/pc/104792580/c/104691780/sc/104536080/cci-swamp-people-22-ammo/1812801.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Frimfire-ammunition%2F_%2FN-1100192%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104536080

I have thought about taking the drive up a few times but haven't yet. I'd be interested in hearing about how other people liked it too... -Jim

Nice, limit is two and they have 100 pks of mini mags $8.99 limit 5 and a $20 off 100 purchase so I ordered 1100 rounds of cci 22lr for $95 shipped. That's 8.64 cents a round which is pretty good for cci. -Jim

http://www.remington.com/sites/default/files/rebate/file/Long%20Guns%20%26%20Ammo.pdf If you look around you can get a deal on these ammo types and $10 off a box with the rebate up to 20 boxes. Sgammo.com has good prices. I am looking at picking up 10 boxes of the target 38 special lead round nose for $15.99 for a 50 round box. After the rebate that comes out to $59.99 + shipping for 500 rounds of 38 special! Can't beat that for an inexpensive training round. They had a similar deal around the holidays for $10 off a box of the Ultimate defense so I loaded up on that for an amazing $1.99 a box of 20. Rebate took about 4 months but no issues whatsoever. Check around for prices on your ammo type, sometimes you can get some great deals. -Jim

Use code SIGSHOT16 at checkout. http://store.sigsauer.com -Jim