Either I am getting more sadistic or adjustments are needed...

I have been to the range a couple of times in the last two weeks and have a report on how the new Gun handles. First of all the lesser recoil and longer sight radius make for a beautiful handling gun all around everyone else that has shot it has had no issue getting bulls eye's with it. That being said the only issue as of right now that needs correcting is my double tap. I seen to get a nice center mass shot off on the first one then the follow up seems to routinely hit the crotch area of the silhouette. So I have either gotten subconsciously more sadistic or I need a little more practice.

Insert evil laugh here...

OK I am not a liberal or even liberal leaning at all but can anyone else imagine Rush Limbaugh sitting in his den at home stroking a white cat and giving an evil mastermind laugh while reading this?

How do they stay in business?

Ok those of you who know me probably have heard my various Gander Mountain stupid employee horror stories but I have a new one.

Today I wandered in to a Gander Mountain store to price ammo and just sort of browse in general. So as I wandered to the back counter I passed a display of the 250 count Remington UMC bulk pack on sale for $64.99 for the 9mm, hmmm that seemed a little steep to me to be a bulk pack and a sale price. So I proceeded to the counter where the pistol ammo has been at this particular store for at least the last 3 years and asked the lady about the prices of 9mm. She looked at me as if I were a simpleton and stated that it was labeled below the boxes, to which I replied, "Well where are the boxes." and she just pointed behind me to where on my last visit the High Power rifle ammo had been kept. So I made the comment, "Oh it has always been behind the counter in the past. Thanks I'll find it." So I wander back to aisle and there are signs above the ammo to divide it into sections, instead of a simple Rifle, Shotgun, Pistol labeling it goes along the lines of Water fowl, Big game, Varmint, and Safari. I really wish I was making the last one up.

So I wander down the big game section, since I figured that pistol ammo wouldn't be in Water fowl, and the first thing I saw in big game was .17 HMR, odd I didn't know that it was capable of taking down big game and what is this next to it .22 Long Rifle . Yeah their heads are that far up their butts. At this point I notice that the lady from the counter seems to be following me, probably because I am such a shady character. So I finally find the pistol ammo and after a few seconds of inspection I start laughing and the lady asks if there is a problem to which I reply, "Yeah you expect people to pay these prices." and walked out of the store.

Seriously they were charging $13.99 for Winchester white box almost anywhere else that tops out at about $9.99 and Wolf Steel case some of the Cheapest ammo on the market was priced at $9.99, slightly more reasonable but still. I mean really their customer service sucks their prices are ridiculous and they are almost always in a shopping plaza with a Walmart that sells ammo as well. So I went to the Walmart and bought a 100 round bulk pack of Winchester white box for $19.00.

If they were smart...

There is an old saying "If they were smart they wouldn't be criminals." I was Looking at the forums on Gunbroker and it brought up a memory about one of the stupider criminals I have encountered to date.

It was about midnight on campus in mid to late fall my partner and I were unofficially riding with an officer buddy of mine when a guy with no shirt sagging blue jeans and untied work boots ran past us being followed by several other people who informed us that he had just attacked them on their porch for not giving him some beer. He apparently had not seen the cruiser and had stopped less than 1/2 a block away in an alley. So my buddy was able to find him in a few seconds and get out of the cruiser and approach him on foot before he decided to bolt.

Too make a long story short the combination of baggy pants untied work boots and loose gravel resulted in a very fast apprehension. Unfortunately he made it a few steps first and my buddy was practically on top of him when he fell taking my buddy with him. My buddy scraped his knee, the criminal scraped everything from the waist up and spent the night in jail. I had to spend the next hour or so filling out witness statements and getting grilled by the zones Lieutenant to make sure it wasn't police brutality. All because he couldn't tie his shoes or wear a belt.

XD gear Concealed Carry review

The last two nights I have come home from work and weighed the two options I have for my carry piece and both nights I have taken my XD 5" Tactical is 9mm and the gear system that came with it opposed to my Taurus PT-145 .45 ACP and the leather Bianchi holster I have for it.

First of all there is the comfort and concealment issue The XD with a full magazine is lighter than the Taurus and both are both double stacked Magazines. The XD is also has a slimmer grip than the Taurus, so it does not print as badly as the Taurus. As for length the Taurus can be concealed easily with a longer and slightly baggy t-shirt. Where as the XD is long enough that the muzzle is even with my pants pocket or a little past it. So the edge in this category goes to the XD because it is lighter and does not print as badly.

Next is a comparison between just the holsters. The holster that comes with the XD is molded plastic deal that has a tension screw as its only retaining device. Also it has what essentially boils down to a single large belt loop designed for a 1 1/2 " belt that doesn't really work all that well with my normal 1" belt so it has a tendency to move on my belt. This makes it necessary to loosen the tension to almost non existent to draw the gun without it getting stuck in the holster. Whereas the Bianchi holster has a thumb break and has two slots for my 1" belt and can be anchored relatively easily by putting a belt loop from my pants in between the two slots making movement on my belt almost non existent. So the edge here gos to the Taurus and the Bianchi holster.

Next is the Magazine holders. Despite looking very awkward the XD double magazine holder is the best I have ever come across despite the 1 1/2" belt loops like the Bianchi holster it is possible to put a belt loop from your pants in between the loops on the holder and anchor it preventing travel. I have as of yet to find a good mag pouch or holder for the Taurus so this one is going Hands down to the XD.

All in all the XD gear takes the cake. If I can find an 1 1/2" belt i don't think I will have too many issues at all. That being said don't judge Taurus too harshly finding any aftermarket products for a Taurus specifically in a gun store is next to impossible instead you have to find a generic size that fits several different guns or magazines so the XD has a slightly unfair edge there and once it gets too hot for multiple layers of clothing I will probably be exclusively be carrying my PT-145.

New Gun

I picked up a new gun today. A Springfield XD 9mm 5" tactical model. All in all I am very satisfied with my purchase. I even saved $90, however I had to get the Dark Earth colored frame to save the money Unfortunately the color bears a striking resemblance to dog poo. I walked out of the store with Gun and the XD gear kit that comes with it a third Magazine and 5o rounds of Speer Gold dot 124 grain for under $550 all in all not a bad day.

Quote from a real American

“Life is hard; it's harder if you're stupid.” John Wayne