Gun Club!

[jay_t]

I carry automatic knives sometimes. I have a few nice custom ones and a Benchmade AutoRukus. My best advice is to never bring a knife to a knife fight

Here's a link to the Boker knife:


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LOL! Very true.

That Boker is a nice looking hunter. It's actually a little smaller than the Rat H.E.S.T. I just posted. I like the belly on the blade profile. It looks like a better design for cutting.

 

[Versatek6]

What is better when choosing a handgun? Capacity (amount rounds the gun can carry) or caliber (size of bullet/case)? For some thing that will shoot fine and work as a self-defense handgun that will last forever under any conditions?

This is always a can of worms.

I'll say neither is better. What is best is reliability. A gun that fails is a small, expensive club.

From trainers I trust, their recommended handgun is the Glock 19, the best compromise in size and capacity. From an organization the sees many hundreds of thousands of rounds fired per year, the highest reliability/lowest failure rate is in the Glock 9mm offerings. The newcomer S&W M&P 9mm is showing itself to be highly reliable, too.

Their lowest reliability seen for a mainstream pistol is in the 1911 platform. No bashing, just a fact based on direct observation.

With modern ammunition, the perceived shortcomings of the 9mm have all but been erased. The round is easier to shoot than .40 or .45, and that lets you put more hits where you want them.

With all this said, my EDC is a SIG P245, a compact .45. I have been using SIGs for so long that I am very comfortable and familiar with them. I carry this not for the caliber, but because it is the smallest reliable "full power" gun I have. The P239 is almost as big as my P225, so I have a hard time making myself buy one. I need to be careful regarding concealment, so smaller is better, even though I would much prefer to have my P228 9mm with me.

I am, however, seriously considering switching to the M&P 9c, as my wife carries that, and it is a great little firearm.

Whatever you choose to do, please get qualified professional training, and practice what you learn. Shooting is a highly perishable skill.

@ sloasdaylight: Your post is full of hyperbole. Please don't give false information to someone looking for assistance.

You state that you have a poor opinion of Glocks, but it is apparently based on false data. Glocks have integral passive safeties built into the trigger system, the firing pin, and a drop safety. They do not have a manually activated safety, but many other firearms do not, either, such as my SIGs or my revolvers. I am not a Glock fanboy, but they are a fine weapon.

In the cases where people have caused negligent discharges, poor gunhandling skills by the operator do not make the gun unsafe.

Referring to handgun ammunition as "deadly and devastating" is misleading. Yes, people die from being shot with a .22, but they also survive being shot by a .45. The purpose of defensive use of any firearm is to stop the threat when you are in fear for your life or of grievous bodily harm. If the only way to stop the threat is by the death of the attacker, so be it; but the intent is not to kill someone, as you imply.

And stop hanging out with the gun shop commandos.

Nappa, sorry for derailing your post.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

LOL! Very true.

That Boker is a nice looking hunter. It's actually a little smaller than the Rat H.E.S.T. I just posted. I like the belly on the blade profile. It looks like a better design for cutting.

I designed it to be just a good all around user. Many use my customs versions as a field dressing knife, being small and easy to pack. I prefer a pointer blade for field dressing but that's just a personal preference. Over the years I've made them in various sizes also. The smallest being just a handy neck sheath knife and larger ones, double ground as fighters. The Boker version is sort of a medium size that will be a great do everything utility knife.

 

[jay_t]

I designed it to be just a good all around user. Many use my customs versions as a field dressing knife, being small and easy to pack. I prefer a pointer blade for field dressing but that's just a personal preference. Over the years I've made them in various sizes also. The smallest being just a handy neck sheath knife and larger ones, double ground as fighters. The Boker version is sort of a medium size that will be a great do everything utility knife.

I like a pointier blade profile as well but the two things I really liked about the H.E.S.T. have to do with survival/backpacking applications more than anything else. The spine of the blade and tang are right at 3/8" thick so I feel I can really abuse the blade if needed without feeling like it will fail on me. The other part is the "prybar" on the end of the tang. You can dismantle pallets with this thing without even using the blade. This comes in handy for digging into the middle of a piece of wet wood to get to something dry enough to start a fire with. That being said you can never have too many knives. I just wish I had a bigger budget.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

I like a pointier blade profile as well but the two things I really liked about the H.E.S.T. have to do with survival/backpacking applications more than anything else. The spine of the blade and tang are right at 3/8" thick so I feel I can really abuse the blade if needed without feeling like it will fail on me. The other part is the "prybar" on the end of the tang. You can dismantle pallets with this thing without even using the blade. This comes in handy for digging into the middle of a piece of wet wood to get to something dry enough to start a fire with. That being said you can never have too many knives. I just wish I had a bigger budget.

3/8" THICK?? Are you sure you don't mean 3/16"??? Even 1/4" would be VERY thick on a knife that size.

 

[jay_t]

3/8" THICK?? Are you sure you don't mean 3/16"??? Even 1/4" would be VERY thick on a knife that size.

Yes. Sorry. 3/16ths. This is what happens when I multitask.

 

[edmidlifecrisis]

Versatek6 is the man. Great advice, well written. Please take it seriously.

My most excellent trainer tells us that reholstering is the most dangerous thing we do with a pistol and causes the most ND's. AND that it should be done slowly and carefully, the opposite of the draw. What's the hurry? Make sure your shirt/keys are not in the way and count your way back in reverse of your drawstroke count.

Also my serious gun friends are becoming fans of the XD. Great reliability at least in tne .45 platform. And stands up to abuse and lack of cleaning, a good test. I may get one some day.

The best carry gun is one you will actually carry and can shoot well and won't crap out. I had a PM9 and had reliability/magazine issues that couldn't be resolved, so away it went.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

Yes. Sorry. 3/16ths. This is what happens when I multitask.

I understand fully. I often multitask in my shop and God knows I pay for it sometimes

 

[FL Knifemaker]

Versatek6 is the man. Great advice, well written. Please take it seriously.

My most excellent trainer tells us that reholstering is the most dangerous thing we do with a pistol and causes the most ND's. AND that it should be done slowly and carefully, the opposite of the draw. What's the hurry? Make sure your shirt/keys are not in the way and count your way back in reverse of your drawstroke count.

Also my serious gun friends are becoming fans of the XD. Great reliability at least in tne .45 platform. And stands up to abuse and lack of cleaning, a good test. I may get one some day.

The best carry gun is one you will actually carry and can shoot well and won't crap out. I had a PM9 and had reliability/magazine issues that couldn't be resolved, so away it went.

Most of the public ranges don't even allow you to operate out of a holster. It's nice to have access to a range that does. The draw stroke AND the re-holster are two things that MUST be practiced often.

 

[HeavyDuty]

Too much talk, not enough pics.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

Too much talk, not enough pics.

Nice!!

Since I'm an AK fan, let me throw this one up!!

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[mcapote]

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does the job for me

 

[FL Knifemaker]

My Son is going to get one of these billet/CNC'ed lowers to build a 9mm AR on.

 

[FL Knifemaker]

One more from the Stickman

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[MEKer]

I usually avoid reading posts with tons of pages but glad I finally did this one---very interesting and informative. With 27 yrs military including Vietnam '69-'71 I've had a lot of exposure to all sorts of firearms, but I must say I feel lost with all the new models and accessories available nowadays.
Here's a listing of some of my firearms past and present in no particular order:

1.Tokarev pistol personally captured, but sold it to an Air Force guy shortly thereafter.
2.Manurhin PPK S (.380)--sold it (boo hoo-great weapon)
3.Ackley Modified 30-06--sold it--not worth the ammo hassle
4.Swedish Army 6.5mm carbine with all matching SN#s (hmmm--was it a Gustav?)--sold (now my buddy's fav deer rifle)
5. .338 WinMag (late '60's model)--my favorite rifle, bought in 1978
6. S&W .44 Mag pistol, Mdl 640, 6" bbl
7. North American mini-derringer .22 cal--sold it
8. Davis Mdl D38 over/under .38 derringer
9. Ruger Security-Six .357 Mag---my fav pistol
10. Bryco stainless .380 auto---actually fairly good belly gun
11. Slew of different .22's come and gone and a couple cheap shotguns.

Boo hoo again---found out last year when I moved from Oregon to Ohio that my OR CCW is NOT reciprocally recognized here in OH.

Have qualed on M-16A1-A3, Car 15, M4, M60 MG, M79, and used AKs, SKS's, RPDs (LMG).

Which reminds me about AK's as an interesting point:
3rd tour Nam, Co H 75th Rangers--we often used AKs and the best ones were the East German ones which I believe had a small box imprinted on the right side of the receiver (? can't remember exactly)--anyway, the Chinese ones had very brittle bolts, the Russian ones were OK but the trophy one to use was the E.G. Was that fact or just our macho conception? Dunno but loved mine. We also had PPsh burp guns which were pathetic as we found out the scary way (long story). Ugh, enough.
Anyway, I'm with ya'all and all hail the 2nd Amendment without which we will fail as a nation.

 

[DigMe]

Welcome to the thread and thanks for your service!

Boo hoo again---found out last year when I moved from Oregon to Ohio that my OR CCW is NOT reciprocally recognized here in OH.

In many states that wouldn't have mattered so much anyway once you move out of the state in which you possessed the CCW.

bc

 

[Nappa]

There are SOO many things to consider when choosing a gun. My suggestion is get out to the shops and ranges and try to handle and shoot as many different guns as you can. Get familiar with all the various features and safety systems and get a feel for what you're comfortable with.

Oh, we don't have ranges that rent guns. I suppose that is what you meant. In order to shoot a gun around here we either have to know a guy with a gun we want to shoot or buy the gun we want to shoot. The only ranges around here are public ranges that are out doors and in the middle of no-where on some farmer's land.

 

[Versatek6]

I usually avoid reading posts with tons of pages but glad I finally did this one---very interesting and informative. With 27 yrs military including Vietnam '69-'71 I've had a lot of exposure to all sorts of firearms, but I must say I feel lost with all the new models and accessories available nowadays.

Thanks for your service.

2.Manurhin PPK S (.380)--sold it (boo hoo-great weapon)

My wife has a Manhurin PP in .32ACP. Sweet gun (but lousy DA trigger!) She shot her permit qualification with it.

Boo hoo again---found out last year when I moved from Oregon to Ohio that my OR CCW is NOT reciprocally recognized here in OH.

Is it hard to get a permit in OH?

3rd tour Nam, Co H 75th Rangers--we often used AKs and the best ones were the East German ones which I believe had a small box imprinted on the right side of the receiver (? can't remember exactly)--anyway, the Chinese ones had very brittle bolts, the Russian ones were OK but the trophy one to use was the E.G. Was that fact or just our macho conception? Dunno but loved mine. We also had PPsh burp guns which were pathetic as we found out the scary way (long story). Ugh, enough.
Anyway, I'm with ya'all and all hail the 2nd Amendment without which we will fail as a nation.

You're probably right on the E.Ger. quality. A quick google search shows a "square diamond" with a circle in it as a makers mark from Suhl. Eastern Europe has a long history of firearms making. The new Stoeger Cougars are made in Turkey on Beretta machinery. The Springfield XD is a Croatian gun originally called the HS2000. Good AK variants abound.

Great post, and it's nice to make your acquaintance.

V6

 

[Versatek6]

Oh, we don't have ranges that rent guns. I suppose that is what you meant. In order to shoot a gun around here we either have to know a guy with a gun we want to shoot or buy the gun we want to shoot. The only ranges around here are public ranges that are out doors and in the middle of no-where on some farmer's land.

If you ever get down to Minneapolis, let me know. There are a couple good ranges with rentals. You can fondle and dry fire a bunch, and I can bring several of mine for you to try.

Shoot me a PM if it ever works out, and we can make connections. I check the board frequently.

V6

 

[Nappa]

If you ever get down to Minneapolis, let me know. There are a couple good ranges with rentals. You can fondle and dry fire a bunch, and I can bring several of mine for you to try.

Shoot me a PM if it ever works out, and we can make connections. I check the board frequently.

V6

Eh, I am 18 so no pistols for me. My previous posts of pistols would have them in my dad's name and promised to transfer when I turn of legal age. I also plan on going to college so even less money to do anything. 3-4 hour (200+ Miles) road trips are expensive. Then to rent (I suppose they are not cheap when ammo is included) time at the range, a gun and a hotel/motel. Can add up to a lot.