I'm Visiting The Us

[Wim]

I'm in the US in a month or so and hope that you guys and gals can help. I could have put this under "Things I like" in fact, I feel like a kid on Christmas Eve!

1. Any ideas of some really cool gunshops to visit - with location please. We are driving around quite a bit so I should be able to stop off at a few, but the route is a bit sketchy at this time (the guys coming over with me aren't my shooting buddies but will need to endure my addiciton for a bit!!)

2. Where is the best place to stop to buy 1911 and Glock stuff - mainly small components, recoil springs, Heinies etc. (not barrells, frames, slides and stuff like that) - over the counter? Otherwise I will mail mail order to a hotel or something.

3. Assuming I order from Brownell's, do they have the right ISMI recoil springs yet? There was a story that quite a bit of there stock of those was suspect.

4. Any places that I really absolutely MUST see whilst I'm there? (Won't get to the West Coast).

5. Best beer to drink in the US

6. Cars not to hire!

7. What side of the road do you guys drive on?

8. Do you have Macdonalds and Burger King there?

9. Have any of you met my friend Willie, he lives in the US in a city?

Seriously, input on 1-6 would be great. Next trip gun buddies only Thanks.

[Vlad]

1. Any ideas of some really cool gunshops to visit - with location please. We are driving around quite a bit so I should be able to stop off at a few, but the route is a bit sketchy at this time (the guys coming over with me aren't my shooting buddies but will need to endure my addiciton for a bit!!)

Cabelas. There are a few around the place so find one.

. Where is the best place to stop to buy 1911 and Glock stuff - mainly small components, recoil springs, Heinies etc. (not barrells, frames, slides and stuff like that) - over the counter? Otherwise I will mail mail order to a hotel or something.

The Internet. Ask Al Gore about it.

Assuming I order from Brownell's, do they have the right ISMI recoil springs yet? There was a story that quite a bit of there stock of those was suspect.

Glocks use springs?

Any places that I really absolutely MUST see whilst I'm there? (Won't get to the West Coast).

New York, New Orleans, take a long drive through Virginia and the Carolinas.

Best beer to drink in the US

Sam Adams, Dogfish Head.

Cars not to hire!

Any with red/white/blue blinky lights on top. You dont want a ride to where they are going. I like "Enterprise" if you drive yourself.

What side of the road do you guys drive on?

Whichever is less busy. And we shoot our way down the road with 500S&W revolvers to reduce the traffic.

Do you have Macdonalds and Burger King there?

No, try Wendy's.

Have any of you met my friend Willie, he lives in the US in a city?

Of course I know Willie and he told me all about you. You stay away from me, you hear?

[Wim]

"You stay away from me, you hear? "

and to think we were going to invite you to come with us to the weekly Bison races!

http://www.brianenos.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=20375

Thanks for the comments.

Wim

[ted caramela]

drink bud

[Ray_Z]

Oh Boy!! Let's take them one at a time.

1. Don't go to a gun shop. Go to gun shows. This country is pretty big. You may check in shotgun news and find shows that are on your route.

2. I hate to break it to you but the kind of stuff you 're looking for is best found on the web. Here's a couple of my favorites.

http://www.midwayusa.com/

http://www.shootersconnection.com/

Shooters Connection is owned by Chuck Bradley. Great guy and fellow shooter. He knows what to stock.

3. Ask Chuck

4. Plan on shooting some matches while you're here. If you aren't going to bring your firearms with you, contact some of the match directors and see if you can borrow a rig for the day.

5. Sorry don't drink

6. ?

7. I've been to the Bahamma's and to the Cayman Islands. Driving in countrys that drive on the other side of the street is very confusing. Case in point. We were walking on the sidewalk in the Caymans. Some people were coming from the other direction. So my wife and I moved over to the right to make room. We almost had a collision. They moved over to the left, like any normal person would in the Caymans. When we come to an intersection we look first to the right then to the left before proceeding. You do it the opposit. Oh BTW stay off the sidewalk with your car. That's where most of us drive.

8. Mickey D's and Burger King are on every other corner. You can get a grease ball fix pretty much 24 hours a day.

[Wim]

Thanks Ray.

The gunshow idea is a great one. I'd love that and had no idea how to find out about them; Shotgun News it is. I found the website.

I haven't been shooting IPSC too long and I prefer not to embarras myself away from home . If I can make some decent progress in the interim I'll think about it - even hanging out at a match may be cool. If I get close to that I'll try to find out about it in The Forum closer to the time.

We are really looking forward to it. I'm going with friends from another city that I really haven't seen in a long time, so it will be good to catch up for hours in the car too!

Thanks.

Wim

[Ray_Z]

Thanks Ray.

The gunshow idea is a great one. I'd love that and had no idea how to find out about them; Shotgun News it is. I found the website.

I haven't been shooting IPSC too long and I prefer not to embarras myself away from home  . If I can make some decent progress in the interim I'll think about it - even hanging out at a match may be cool. If I get close to that I'll try to find out about it in The Forum closer to the time.

We are really looking forward to it. I'm going with friends from another city that I really haven't seen in a long time, so it will be good to catch up for hours in the car too!

Thanks.

Wim

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If you've shot any IPSC at all you know that nobody is going to laugh at you. You should also know that everyone will be there to give you a hand up.Come and shoot with us when you get here.

[carinab]

I guess the pertinent question is where will you be flying into? What to see depends on how long you plan to be here and if you only want sites you can drive to.

I recently had visitors from Sweden who asked if they could rent a car and drive to the Grand Canyon. They couldn't understand why I was giggling until I explained to them that it would take at least two days of driving long hours just to get there. I live in the DFW metroplex in Texas. The size of the US sometimes doesn't equate to what Europeans are used to.

And be warned, the food portions compared to what you are used to will be enormous! Split a plate with your travel companion.

[Wim]

I guess the pertinent question is where will you be flying into?  What to see depends on how long you plan to be here and if you only want sites you can drive to.

New York (and start giggling about now) drive to New Orleans, drive to Texas, north to Montana (this is the part I'm most looking forward to Colorado, Wyoming, Montana), across the Midwest to Chicago and back to New York. (By now you should be rolling on the ground      .) We're there for about 3 weeks and bargain on a lot of driving, but speeds may be a lot slower than we are used to here. If we get pressed for time we'll run for an aircraftto sut out a bit of driving.

I recently had visitors from Sweden who asked if they could rent a car and drive to the Grand Canyon.  They couldn't understand why I was giggling until I explained to them that it would take at least two days of driving long hours just to get there.  I live in the DFW metroplex in Texas.  The size of the US sometimes doesn't equate to what Europeans are used to.

US South Africans are used to distance - but not US scale (at all!!!). Sorry, got the quote thing wrong.

And be warned, the food portions compared to what you are used to will be enormous!  Split a plate with your travel companion.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The food should be fine Much better than Europe. Eating is one of the loves of my life!!

Thanks for the reply. Any ideas of what to see are great and might determine where we run for aircraft when we find the driving just TOOOOO much.

[Ray_Z]

Thanks for the reply. Any ideas of what to see are great and might determine where we run for aircraft when we find the driving just TOOOOO much.

Well, let's see, if you want to see a bunch of buracrats try to outtalk each other while saying as lettle as possable stop in our nations capital.

If you like scuba diving try the Florida keys. Bathtub warm water, ultra clear water, beautiful fish life and coral. Also at least 15 clubs hold USPSA matches in the state.

On your way to the keys stop in Miami and see what a city wide practical pistol match looks like. ( With all moving targets that shoot back) Oh, and they have full auto side matches on the street corners after the sun goes down.

The Wisconson Michigan area is beautiful. It's clear water lakes and rock formations are pictures that are worth keeping.

The flatlands in the mid US can be a bit boaring to drive. But to see the open areas that are farmed there are very interesting. I guess the think that sticks out in my mind most about the farming there is the tractors. They are so big that the cabs have air condidtioning, 2 way radios, and even a refrigerator because the operator is so far from the house.

The desert area in the Southwest is so vast that distance is almost impossable to judge. Jaged mountains and colorful rock formations are always remembered for years ofter the trip.

Las Vegus is a town that must be seen to be believed. The hotel/casinos are citys in themselves. Most with 3000 rooms or more. Here's a stat that most don't hear. The electric bill for those casinos reaches over a million dollars a month, due to the lavish lighting that the casinos use to draw gamblers.

But my fondest memorys of the Las Vegus area are those of hand feeding wild donkeys and wolfs that come right up to you in the Red Rock Canyon State Park. It only encompases a few hundred square miles. They have no fear of humans.

Altho I lived in San Diego as a teenager I don't remember much of the West coast. Altho I do remember slipping across the boarder to Tijuana to see the dog and pony shows. But that's another story not for open forum.

I've been told that the Pacific Northwest is a wonderland that must be seen to be believed. Timberland that is a far as you can see. Possably the last refuge for the black bear, Moose, and elk.

I'm sure I missed a great deal of what can be seen in this vast country of ours. Someone else can fill you in on California. All I remember about it was cutting school to go surfing when there was a storm out to sea. Maybe you can tell by my spelling.

I hope this helps a little

[Wim]

Thanks Ray.

It sounds awesome (in the true meaning and not "surfer" sense of the word!).

Note to self: Take plenty film. Take as much as you think you need - then take 1/2 more again!

We are trying to firm things up a little more this week. We unfortunately won't make the west coast, Nevada or (if I've got my bearings right) the Pacific NW.

I'll drop a note about where we see ourselves going and when after this week's deliberations.

You've got me interested in trying to make it to a match - I'd be one of the few guys here who shot one in the US - despite being a newbie and all!

Thanks for the reply.

Wim

[Ray_Z]

COOL!!

See ya

[Carlos]

"4. Plan on shooting some matches while you're here. If you aren't going to bring your firearms with you, contact some of the match directors and see if you can borrow a rig for the day."

Agreed. Many of us in the USPSA community have several complete shooting rigs for different divisions & I, for one, would be happy to join a visiting IPSC member on a squad & lend him a spare rig for the match. Don't hesitate to ask.

If you only want to do some shooting, you may be surprised to learn that many indoor ranges in the US now rent firearms including what we call "Class III" - in other words, fully automatic firearms usually in pistol calibers. At Phil Strader's place near D.C., one can rent an Uzi 9mm or a .45 caliber Thompson SMG. I believe there is also a 5.56mm caliber AR-15 for rent (sadly, its semi-auto only), as well as an STI Open 9mm for rent at the indoor range. Such indoor ranges are listed in every hotel's phone book under "Guns". In in D.C. you must also visit the NRA's HQ in nearby VA' they have a museum and a shooting range set up down in the basement (though rentals are not offered there). Enjoy your visit.

D.C Johnson

www.shootersparadise.com

[Wim]

Thanks for all of the input and the suggestions / invitations.

I'm certainly visiting with the "wrong guys" (good friends but probably not right to visit the US with a gun nut!).

I'm getting so many ideas and suggestions that I'm not sure what to choose - and I'm goingto have to do that!

firming up things next few days and will try to choose what and where...

Thanks. Keep 'em coming....

Wim