Weapons - What you have (NOT a political discussion)

Sierra1

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. . . . They’d also explain to you, in their infinite wisdom, that adding a suppressor would make it “pfft pfft pfft” and you could use it in a room with an open door to a room full of people next door and not one of them would hear it! . . . .
'Cuz they've watched too many movies. :rolleyes:
 

OldRider

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I wonder if that was the inspiration for their new LC carbines. Pretty much the same things but use Glock mags and are chambered in .45acp, 10mm, and 5.7mm.
They actually started selling the A-Team Mini's again last year. It really hurt the value of the 70's built rifles. Glock is also selling the Gen 1 17's again. I have one of the original Glock 17's in the Tupperware box. Price has crashed on them too.

14-2.jpg
 

Checkswrecks

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Inherited my (BIL) Other Brother's M&P AR and Ruger LC9 when he passed a few months ago. The AR shoots like every other AR and is just so mechanical and boringly efficient it doesn't do anything for me so giving it to my son. Still really like the (9mm) Sig P365 for most of the time when I want to carry but have wanted something smaller for when just wearing shorts and a T-shirt and the LC9 is pretty good for that. Unfortunately the trigger just sucks and the pinky hook on the magazine still prints so started looking into other options.

I used to think the 380 was insufficient till talking to one of the staff at the range about all this. He told me to pull up YT gel tests comparing the 9mm and 380 and - Wow! The new 380 ammo is getting fairly similar penetration and expansion. Went back with the LC9 (bottom) for comparison and after trying a number of 380s, came down to the Kimber Micro and the new Smith Bodyguard 2.0. The customers at the range have put thousands of rounds through both and reportedly neither has ever had any issues despite never getting cleaned and showing evidence of the hard life range guns get.


Note that the BG and Kimber have extended mags here; the Kimber is normally a 7+1 like the Ruger LC9 and BG is 10+1 with a mag that is flush with the bottom of the grip. Both are amazingly comfortable to shoot and surprisingly accurate at 10-15 yards. I do like the external hammer on the Kimber but not enough to offset the extra rounds in the exact same size dimensionally so happy birthday to me, bought a BG2.0 with manual thumb safety. The Ruger now resides in the safe.

At only 10 ounces, the thing just disappears as a carry pistol. Have put several hundred rounds through it so far plus a box of Federal JHP and the only gripes are the width of the opening in the rear sight, how stiff the manual safety was at first, and how hard it is to load the magazine beyond the first 7 rounds. Got a loader to make reloading easier, cycling the safety up and down continuously while watching a TV show pretty well took care of that and I'm on the fence about whether the sights are bad enough to change. While the 365 is not a big gun, below compares it to the BG2.0.


8" target at 10 yds. There's always that one flyer. ;)
 

Sierra1

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. . . . I used to think the 380 was insufficient till talking to one of the staff at the range about all this. He told me to pull up YT gel tests comparing the 9mm and 380 and - Wow! The new 380 ammo is getting fairly similar penetration and expansion. . . .
I too came to the same conclusion once I found out that THE John Moses Browning was the designer of the .380. (he's not known for ineffective guns) Here is a link to a site that compares multiple calibers: 380 ACP Ammo for Sale - AmmoToGo.com. This is where I go to determine which .380 I want. "I" chose lower penetration but greater expansion to reduce collateral injuries. Their prices are a little high, so I go to this site for my purchases: Bulk Ammo for Sale Online Free Shipping Available. Their prices are competitive but if you get a membership, there's a small discount and free shipping. Free shipping allows for periodic purchases without getting raped on shipping.

I see a pattern with your "and is just so mechanical and boringly efficient it doesn't do anything for me". I'm pretty sure you used similar wording on why the Tenere got sent away. :D
Of course, I'm the opposite. Knowing something will work every time gets me excited.

Of those three, that would have been my choice also. But the little things that you mentioned not liking is why I went with the Shield.
 
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Matt51F1

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I too came to the same conclusion once I found out that THE John Moses Browning was the designer of the .380. (he's not known for ineffective guns) Here is a link to a site that compares multiple calibers: 380 ACP Ammo for Sale - AmmoToGo.com. This is where I go to determine which .380 I want. "I" chose lower penetration but greater expansion to reduce collateral injuries. Their prices are a little high, so I go to this site for my purchases: Bulk Ammo for Sale Online Free Shipping Available. Their prices are competitive but if you get a membership, there's a small discount and free shipping. Free shipping allows for periodic purchases without getting raped on shipping.

I see a pattern with your "and is just so mechanical and boringly efficient it doesn't do anything for me". I'm pretty sure you used similar wording on why the Tenere got sent away. :D
Of course, I'm the opposite. Knowing something will work every time gets me excited.

Of those three, that would have been my choice also. But the little things that you mentioned not liking is why I went with the Shield.
It must be nice to be able to buy ammo without having to take out a loan first.
I reload almost everything.
 

Sierra1

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It must be nice to be able to buy ammo without having to take out a loan first.
I reload almost everything.
My buddy does a lot of reloading. But over here, 9mm is getting down to 23 cents per round. He's willing to buy now, and reload later when the availability goes away, or price goes crazy. Even .45acp is down around $18 for a box of 50 230gr FMJ. Even 5.7mm is under 50 cents per round and dropping.
 

Matt51F1

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My buddy does a lot of reloading. But over here, 9mm is getting down to 23 cents per round. He's willing to buy now, and reload later when the availability goes away, or price goes crazy. Even .45acp is down around $18 for a box of 50 230gr FMJ. Even 5.7mm is under 50 cents per round and dropping.
I saw pistol powder for sale for the first time in about 4 years.
$100 for 500grams (just over a pound)
 

Checkswrecks

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I saw pistol powder for sale for the first time in about 4 years.
$100 for 500grams (just over a pound)
Ouch!
As Sierra1 implied, it's just not worth reloading on the most common calibers unless in competition or some other specific reason.
 
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Checkswrecks

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...I see a pattern with your "and is just so mechanical and boringly efficient it doesn't do anything for me". I'm pretty sure you used similar wording on why the Tenere got sent away. :D
ARs can't be used for hunting in this State so it's pretty much just a gun for target shooting at a range and I've got too much else going on. The pistols and bear spray are for personal defense so I stay proficient with them.

After commuting on the Teneres since it was introduced (I was a PDP) I was just ready for a change. Still a great bike that I like better than the BMW, Triumph, etc.

Of those three, that would have been my choice also. But the little things that you mentioned not liking is why I went with the Shield.
I shot the Shield in both the 380EZ and 9 and both were fine. Just personally prefer the Sig to the Shield 9 and the BG2.0 is significantly lighter/smaller than the 380. Check it out next time you are in a shop.
 

Sierra1

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Wow. They're proud of the Bodyguard. I don't know what they're bringing around here, but the Shield(s) are usually priced higher. That picture does make it look like the EZ is a lot bigger. But the biggest difference is from the front of the trigger guard forward. And that is just going down your leg. I wear/carry the EZ in an IWB holster with my nylon gym shorts and a shirt. Never prints. I used to carry my OG Shield in .40, but switched to the .380 for its ballistics. Of course, I'm a little . . . . "thicker" . . . . than you are, so it might be easier to conceal for me.
 

Matt51F1

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Ouch!
As Sierra1 implied, it's just not worth reloading on the most common calibers unless in competition or some other specific reason.
Nobody is allowed everyday carry unless you’re a police officer with a half day on the range to obtain your qualifications with 90 minutes practice every two years (no joke). Then you can carry a 40 cal.

General public have to do a minimum of 6 competitions a year for one calibre or 4 per calibre if you own more than one category (air, 22, 25-38, over 38 are the categories).

Everything I do has to be for competition so a 9mm can go as low as 3.5gr powder to ensure cycling. My 38 works well around 3gr of powder.
Some people go as low as 0.8 gr in their 32s.
 

Sierra1

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