Seth

Bayou nailed it. If you ask a business for a sponsorship, you're asking them for time, money and special treatment... often at the expense of paying clients. If you come up with a marketing plan, present it professionally and demonstrate real ROI for the company, you stand a fighting chance. But remember, if you approach a company with 'Will you sponsor me?' the answer will 9999 out of 10000 be 'NO!'. What do YOU have that THEY want?

Can I be a junior member? I have had 3 1911 Single Stackers, a Para 4.25", a Springer 3" and a Springer TRP. The Para and TRP have been doing CDP duty in IDPA and this will be my first year shooting USPSA. I can certainly act like a junior elitist snob!

Its the vendors responsibility to price their products so that they can make an appropriate profit on it. A credit card is THE principle form of transaction for most purchases at this point and the vendor should be smart enough to build the fees into their margin. The fact that they don't and charge a fee is a clear indication of a poor business model, in my opinion. I wouldn't do business with some one that smacked me with that post agreement of terms (even if the terms are just agreeing to purchase).

Are there brands of frames that are typically better machined and more consistent than others? STI seems to be a winner, what about Springfield, Kimber, Para and others? Any notoriously BAD? Or predictably good? s.

I have had Wiley X make me several pairs of prescription safety glasses. All are 100% optically correct and have been outstanding. Unfortunately, I'm hard on stuff and have cracked a frame twice. Both times they replaced the complete frame and lens within 2 days at no charge. Seth

I've used a cigarette lighter a bunch. Small heat, just where you need it. Mold away and hold til cool.

I ran the Dawson f/o front and rear on my G17. I liked them so much I've put them on every other pistol I shoot.

Wyatt, you're an oak.

Where's the mythical John Waynes, Clint Eastwoods, and Marlon Brandos when you need them?

I have lived in Boston, San Francisco, Chicago, and San Diego in the last 14 years. All 4 cities are overurn with disengenuous people who will lie to your face to make you happy. I've found more suppressed racism, sexism, and biogtry in the big cities than in the small town I currently reside in. Even San Francisco, the 'tolerant' city, was only tolerant of some things. Places like Chinatown were treated like a crack infested ghetto by the predominantly white middle/upper class residents, simply because the inhabitants lived differently. But I still can't quite figure out what about city living makes americans so squishy?

Why is it that America is hard in the middle and so soft on the edges???? Look at the major cities... New York, DC, Miami, SF, LA, San Diego, all liberal hubs and so very responsible for the politically correct, touchy feelie, afraid of confrontation nonsense plaguing us. The middle has managed to maintain a reasonable, down to earth view of the world without resorting to being a metrosexual, politically correct, over sensitive patsy. Why is are we soft on the edges? Seth (quoting my new favorite guy : Harden the f up)

THAT GUY RULES!!! There needs to be an American version. Stop the WUSSIFICATION of america.

Dawson. All my guns...

I can only imagine that contingency programs are NEARLY useless for a manufacturer. There's precious little media coverage or attendance. The only advantage for a company would be to give a little lovin' back to people that are ALREADY using their product. Having worked in offroad motorsports as a manufacturer for 7 years, I assure you that contingency programs and 'sponsorships' are typically VERY one sided. The manufacturer pays and pays and is lucky to see any press. Our sponsored competitors would receive thousands in product and moneys... and we'd see little back, even when we sponsored winners. Seth

I'm no expert... but I have found Springfield's quality and customer service to be tops. They just RED LABELED grip screw bushings to me, as I had one with bad threads. --- that was at their cost

I love buying cars. I can't do it as much as I used to, with an infant and one less job, but its still one of my favorite thrills. And I LOVE a good deal. I'm not cheap by any stretch, but I do like to haggle.

Eric, I'm thrilled to hear that you did that well! I didn't know that program was so thorough. Congrats on a great deal!

I'm sorry I'm late on this but there's a great way to buy a car that most people miss. The basic premise is have more information than the dealer. I buy and sell cars with some regularity. When I buy new, I always walk in with the dealer invoice already in hand. They are commonly available online at sites like consumer reports. Not their cheezy reviews, but if you look into their pay services, they offer the complete invoice on the car for each option and what retail is. So for example, take a Toyota. It retails for $20k. Invoice is $15k. Each accessory has a dollar value which is what it costs the dealer and what the retail cost is. Ie... radio retails for $250. Dealer invoice is $100. When I walk in to buy that Toyota, I already have the EXACT dealer invoice in hand in black and white. Check written out and paperclipped to the invoice paper work. When the business part of buy a car comes up, I start with the bare invoice, removign all their marketing fees, handling fees, etc... and work UP instead of starting iwth the MSRP and work down. Its always easier to get a better deal when they're trying to add stuff back instead of your trying to get it for free. So. Walk in with the invoice and know what each option costs the dealer. THAT'S your number. In this economy, they need you, not vice versa. IF they don't accept your offer, leave. They'll call back in an hour... if they don't chase you out to your car. I paid $7k under MSRP on my wife's Grand Cherokee and $3500 under on my Toyota... all from knowing how.

Is there a cheap and dirty way to find out if a drop in will work? I don't have any problem spending $$$$ for top quality work, but am not at all afraid to get my hands dirty either. Can the C&S kit be dropped in and dychem or sharpied to determine if its got proper engagement? Seth (thinkng a of a trigger job for my SA TRP)

I watched it last night with my wife. We expected to enjoy it, but were both quite surprised with how quickly we both were taken in. Both of us were pretty emotionally attached to that dog (2 of our own at home didn't help). I though it was great. lots of suspense, some decent action and a great actor. I just wish there was more of the Shelby!

Thanks, nemo. I'm quite pleased with Hilton all the way around. Fast shipping, great quality.

Thanks Kevin for quickly getting me the tap, bushing and even including the wrench for my bad grip screw bushing!!!! You're an absolute gentleman! Best, Seth

I wish I was there. I miss all of it so damn much. I'm actually working on getting out of it entirely.... there's just no comparison to what we had at the hammers. I have shot the gold bead on a M&P and didn't care for it as much as the fiber. Particularly in the outdoors, the fiber is like a flash light!

Its the standard rear with the Dawson .100" fiber front. The fiber optic is REALLY nice. Bright as all get out in the light. Very easy to track it as it lifts. With the .125" and .100" post theres a fair amount of light between the edges. I really like the 6 o'clock hold as you can SEE the target instead of covering the target.

Gary, I ran the Dawson front and rear on my G17 and found the sight picture to be VERY quick to acquire. When I bought the TRP, it had traditional Novak nightsights with the scalloped rear. I found the rear to be distracting and the front to be hard to pick up. This is a really great site picture... especially if you're not concerned with dialing in elevation (the TRP uses a 6 o'clock sight picture, which these sights mimic). Seth (hopefully I'm right!)