michael_aos

Apple is currently selling some very nice eMac's for $529. I've purchased 2 G3 iMac's, 1 G4 iMac, 2 eMac's and a G4 PowerMac. They're all still functioning perfectly. Very highly recommended. Mike

I didn't even know the show "Shooting Gallery" existed until I bought TiVo. It learned my watching habits and suggested it. Now I've got a "Season Pass". Just watched the Todd Jarrett episode. I haven't had a chance to try it yet, but I think his tips on the correct hold for a 1911 will really help me. I think I was doing it wrong... Mike

I've got a Glock 34, so I was thinking along the same lines. I've also got a 9mm, .38S and .40 S&W 1911's, so I've thought about the Mech-Tech in any of those calibers, or even 10mm. A pistol-caliber (probably 9mm) AR upper is appealing because of the similar ergonomics / function and I can take advantage of the great AR trigger. No paperwork their either. I've got a K10/22T and it's a BLAST to shoot. Similar "problem" with clay pigeons as the AR -- it's easy to shoot THROUGH them, without really breaking them up. I'll poke around at Wal-Mart & Galyans and see if I can find some different, cheap, pigeons. The 90pk at Wal-Mart is like $3.00 -vs- more like $6/50 for the "shatterblast" BB-gun pigeons. Mike

I had a lot of fun this summer shooting stationary clay pigeons at around 30yds with a friends 1970's-era M1 carbine clone. The pigeons busted into a bunch of pieces / exploded. When I've shot pigeons in the past, from 50-300yds with my AR, the .223 round just zips through them and you can't even tell you've hit it (until you get really close). An M1 with a paratrooper-style folding stock would probably be ideal, but I'm not really excited about yet ANOTHER caliber. I feel like I've already go too many guns in too many different calibers. I'd also like the option of mounting a scope or red-dot. May not do it, but I like to think I COULD. Just looking for something to take camping / plinking. Fun. Something chambered in 9mm probably makes the most sense, since I've got several handguns in that caliber. That leads me toward a Beretta Storm, Ruger camp carbine, pistol-caliber AR upper, Mech-Tech carbine conversion, etc. Any comments on these or others like them? For some reasons all my "gun savvy" friends have a thing against carbines so they're not much help. I've got Glocks & 1911's (in multiple calibers), so the Mech-Tech makes sense, but they don't look very comfortable to shoot / ergonomic. I hear the trigger on the Storm sucks bad. I think they all have their pro's & cons. Just wondering if anyone else had any experience with any of these. Mike

I guess I'll have to see how much of an accuracy "hit" the cleaning turns out to be. Worst-base, there are plenty of aftermarket 10/22 barrels out there. Might even look at converting it to HM2 cartridge if it turns out to be more than just hype. Mike

I really think I'm going to go with an auto shotgun. Most likely a Remington 1100. Just haven't decided if I want 20ga, or 12ga with reduced-recoil loads. Mike

As I've read more, I see that coming up more often than I expected. I shot a friends M1 clone this summer and it was a BLAST. I'd probably want one of the new Auto-Ordnance. More expensive than a 20ga Remington 1100. Mike

Anyone else tried one of these? Mike

Anyone happen to know if the Surefire Remington 1100 replacement forend fits the 20ga model too? Mike

"Any Other Weapon" -- NFA rules that apply to shotguns with a barrel >12" and <18". You have to register with the BATFE and pay $5.00. Mike

AOW isn't out of the question. I could do that here in CO. Just thinking if I'm going to do it, I might as well get the "ideal" configuration. Whatever that is. Mike

What's the story with these? Mike

Good point. I guess I was thinking I'd hear a crash and take something with me to go investigate. I'm in a fairly small house, with the bedroom upstairs, down a narrow hallway. I can see the front door, the back door, and the side (from the garage) door from the bottom of the stairs. As seen in this Quicktime VR movie. Mike

Are there any reliability issues with a short-barreled auto / Remington 1100? Wal-Mart lists the Remington 1100 LT-20 Synthetic Youth Gun for $425, but I'm a little concerned the 21" barrel is a liability inside the house. Mike

I thought I saw a Remington 870 express, youth, synthetic 20ga "short barrel" at Wal-Mart for $249. I poked around on the Remington web-site and couldn't find that model. I happened to notice the Synthetic Youth LT-20. Very nice. Mike

I really love shooting that gun. I don't know about mounting a "tactical" light though, and it's longer than the suggested length for a defensive gun. You also loose the "cha chunk" sound of cycling a pump. Plus a pump gives me an excuse to buy another gun. Not necessarily a HUGE factor, but I can probably find a pump for closer to $300. I think I paid $779+tax for the 1100CM. So right now the 1100CM is in the safe, whereas a pump would just be left leaning against the wall in the bedroom. Mike

Actually the law is very simple in Colorado. It's called "Make my day". If you're in your home, and you feel threatened, you can shoot. It's been challenged in court. A woman inside her home felt threatened by a man pounding on her front door. She leaned out an upstairs window and shot him dead. By the letter of the law, she was found to be within her rights. This law also applies to your "private conveyance" (car). Link to Beavis and Butthead "Are you threatening me??" audio clip. Mike

I was sort of thinking an auto, simply because that's what I'm used to shooting. I qualified with the M870 every 6-months in the Air Force, but I've never owned a pump and I don't recall ever shooting one outside of the military. Mike

There is something to that. In fact, before my wife was comfortable with firearms, she used to joke about getting a tape-recording of a pump-action shotgun being cycled, so she could play it if someone broke in. Mike

I guess this is easier than I thought. I've heard a lot of good things about AR's -vs- pistols for CQB-type applications. Definitely pump -vs- auto? I've got my Remington 1100CM in the safe... Mossberg -vs- Remington 870? Mike

I see Ruger has one now.

I once found a "thumb" from a latex glove in a tub of crab-salad from Sam's Club. Yes, it was definitely from a glove, and no, I didn't find the thumb itself. Mike

I've got 4 Springfield 1911's (9mm, .38S, .40 S&W, .45ACP) . I like the way the Kimber's look, but I like the Springfield prices and warranty more. My carry gun is a Springfield Micro-compact .45ACP. Mike

Just curious to hear the thoughts of sport-shooters / gun enthusiasts, as opposed to mall-ninja's and gun-store commando's. I live in a less-than-great neighborhood. Someone made a half-hearted attempt to break in last year, possibly while my wife was home alone (she thought she heard something, and we later found the screen cut). We've since had bars installed on several main-floor windows. We keep a Glock 34 with a Surefire X200 in the night-stand, plus a Ruger Blackhawk .357, Browning Hi-Power 9mm, and CZ75B 9mm distributed throughout the house. As I've gotten more into 3-gun, I'm wondering if an AR or shotgun makes more "sense" for home-defense than the Glock? Any thoughts as far as the ideal firearm? Any opinions on dual-use competition / home-defense? (legal / practical reasons for / against) I'm wondering if I'm doing myself a disservice by locking the long-guns in the safe. Mike

I've got 2 .22's that force me to clean them from the muzzle-end. A Ruger K10/22T and a Browning BuckMark Micro. I'm using a Dewey .22 cleaning rod, and a Dewey or Sinclair .22 rimfire brass jag with 3/4" square patches. I'm also using a Sinclair muzzle-guide for the 10/22. I keep hitting the crown with the jags. I'm trying to be careful, but it still happens -- maybe even worse the more careful I try to be! I'm hoping the brass jag is soft enough that it CAN'T hurt the crown. Or am I likely causing minute damage every time I clean them this way? Mike