What is in your arsenal? (Pics encouraged!)

OK then, what did the hunters of "Grizzly-Polar-Kodiak" bears use before the Tavor was released to save the world from "legit eat-your-face bears?"

To lighten the mood, a true story:

I have a female friend (more of an acquantinance) who did a summer geology internship in wild Alaska. Their group was provided with & trained to use a 12 gauge shotgun set-up for and loaded with slugs. One day three of them got caught between a large bear (under the circumstance any bear would've seemed large) and the cabin/shack where the shotgun had been left.

They formed a line, and began screaming at the top of their lungs (easily achieved I would guess) while waving their arms widly. It worked, the bear left.

They never again left the cabin without the shotgun.

 

@KirStang, explain the bear joke and resultant patch.

 

I've been straight-up wrecked by an old man with Kenpo sticks during sparring. Brutal. They're no-joke deadly in the hands of somebody with training. If nothing else, stay on top of your stick game.

Basic suggestion would be to hit-up a gun rental place and try out the gamut of modern polymer handguns: Glock, S&W, Sig, etc. Find out what kind of trigger you like, grip shape you prefer.

Key to success is figuring out what your purpose is: home defense, target shooting, whatever. You live in a commie state so a compact piece for concealed carry is probably not a priority.

After figuring out your purpose, find something that checks the blocks and seek training from a reputable instructor. I've been cappin' for ages and still enjoy a good beginner's class.

 

For quite some time I've been itching for a:

9mm. Semi-auto. SA or DA, doesn't matter in a semi-auto as far as I'm concerned. 14+1 capacity at least. Must be able to handle SJHP ammo. Comfortable grips for one-handed shooting, not the square-ish 'military' style grip designed for two-handed shooting (I liked the design & grips on the Browning Hi-Power that I had many years ago).

What I didn't like about the Hi-Power:
Couldn't handle SJHP. 11-12# trigger pull (Seriously, Browning? It's a handgun, not some kind of finger strength workout gizmo).

 

Actually, it's a huge difference. Think about it: one is a non-existent movement to the rear at 3-5 pounds (tiny movement, negligible weight), the other is a significant smooth stroke with some oomph (long movement, significant weight). It will also determine if you want/need a manual safety lever. In the case of DA/SA guns (Beretta M92, Sig P226), you'll have that long stroke first shot, then single action for the rest. I prefer the exact same solid trigger pull every time, myself.

Any modern pistol will be able to load SJHPs and holds ~15 shots. Many polymer guns have adjustable backstraps (Glock, S&W) or the entire grip can be replaced (Sig) as the trigger group is modular. It'll work to best fit you. Ergonomics are in the hand of the shooter, though. Google "Glock Hump" and see the comparisons to 1911s, etc. The best thing to do is hit up a gun rental place and try out the various major brands for that Goldilocks experience.

I had a Hi-Power for awhile. Great shooting service pistol, solid steel, high capacity (at the time). The High Power is a single-action gun and thus I don't understand your story about a Massachusetts trigger pull.

 

The trigger pull on the Hi-Power was stiff, even for a SA. Mine was most likely built in the late '70s/early '80s.

 

Someday when I'm successful (and hopefully suckling on the government teet) I'll be able to afford a plethora of rifles like the Kirstang family, until then I will just have to settle for a new upper.


--- merged: May 13, 2014 11:15 AM ---

There are some good deals online every once in awhile for police trade-in glocks. They usually have holster wear but have been shot very little. The price is usually in the low to mid $400 range. I think most people could find $400 worth of unnecessary things they could eliminate from their budget over the course of a few months like cable tv, alcohol, or condoms/birth control pills (just do it in the butt). The savings will add up quickly.

 

KirStang gets half-ass officer pay. He's not exactly rollin' in it. The real money is on the dirty, nasty civilian side of DoD. You already know that.

Lightweight is so. hot. right now.

/Zoolander

I'm going to do a lightweight build with the other-other KAC lower I've got sitting in a cardboard box in the man cave. I'm thinking of going Gucci and getting a 14.5" pencil profile with that BCM KMR unicorn bone handguard, DD A1.5 fixed irons, a T-1 on a lower 1/3 and either that LWRC stubby stock or the MFT minimalist "fumble hook" shoulder stock. I'll put all that together for like $2k and then my current girlfriend will shoot it and claim it as her own. And then my ammo cache will be empty.

Best Frugal Human advice ever: Read books. Drink water. Gleeful sodomy.

...

2014 Yearbook Photo of my BCM/KAC:

 

In case of zombies.....lol.



On a more serious note, loving my new 3x ACOG. Green horseshoe reticle...

 

Nice no-frills stick. Looks legit. I'm a big fan of minimalist long skinnies, myself.

I'm also digging the woobie. A man should never be without one.

 

Yes the woobies are a must. I snapped that photo in response to a photo posted to my FB wall by my sister in law. It had an AK a Mossberg 500 a cheap machete the Zombie Survival guide and a can of spam.

I have nicer guns and eat a primal diet so it was Beef Jerky the AR with Aimpoint, Rem 870P and all the TAC gear to accompany it. The kydex stuff I made myself.

I went theriugh the vfg and afg phases but I like a slick handguard as it doesn't hang up on gear, barriers, etc. I like the squid grips that give a positive hand index without a protrusion.

And thanks!

 

I've got a Thinsulate woobie I had a right-off-post mamasan sew a zipper on for me. Thing was fantastic during mandatory spring/summer walkabouts. Roll the modded woobie inside your Goretex bivy and you're set.

Perhaps we should make it a theme thread. I know we can get @KirStang and @Borla in on it, at least.

Gnarly. Kydexsmithin' requires some patience. I try to keep as much hard stuff off my go-time first line stuff as possible but I like your non-Batman setup.

I always come back to the stubby VFG as a C-grip hand stop... for support in unconventional positions, working indoors and for when the gun gets too hot to C-grip.

Gun geardos are a rarity on TFP. Glad to have you aboard.

 

I appreciate the welcome! I have quite an arsenal and will throw some other photos up later.

I also made that small knife on the chest rig.





Hammer forged triple quenched 5160. Scary sharp...

I have a nice little mad scientist setup here for making sharp things.

 

I always feel guilty for stashing a woobie in to my Ruck. I feel like a POGue when I pull it out in the field. Anyway, keeping in line with this thread:



This bad boy was my girlfriend for the last 3 weeks. Never left my side. <3

 

You're all fucked up. The woobie is the fighting man's best friend. Embrace it. Mod it. Own it.

HOLYSHITIAMDISAPPOINT, SIR. Not enough Gucci bolt-ons. Your unit armorer a total douchefuck or are you just afraid to embrace parts that aren't from 2003?

/dragged a rifle that was better equipped through both GWoT theaters as a garbageman

/dat stock rail system+RDS mount+buttstock+rear BUIS+rail covers

 

Armorer? Bro, we don't even have a supply sergeant. Nat'l Guard'd!

 

Thus my relevant inquiry as to why your bone stock M4 isn't modded up like the nine dozen gats you have parked at the casa.

 

I don't have pictures of most of my guns on my phone, but I do have this. It's small, and only holds five rounds, but it's effective. Shoots accurately, but hard to shoot accurately with that barrel length.

 

Ah, the classic .38 Spec J-frame DAO. A solid walkin' around gun and the absolute minimum a dude should carry for defensive purposes.

Accuracy is less about barrel length and more about sights and your ability to hold the gun while you work the trigger. You'd get more accuracy from a hammered gun with an aftermarket sight package.

Have you considered moving to a single stack 9mm subcompact? It'll give you much improved handling and capacity in a slimmer package. I ditched my S&W 37 for a Kahr and haven't looked back.