With all the talk about dry firing, I haven't noticed anyone bringing up adding a Crimson Trace, or equivalent laser to their J-Frame. I have and have found that absolutely necessary for determining how one's tendency to jerk/pull to the side/up-down when pulling the DA trigger. I even added a CT to one of my L-Frames.
It doesn't take much time at all to actually pay for the CT-laser, by counting just how many rounds have "NOT" been shot. And the bottom line is that you can remove the CT-laser grip after you perfect your trigger pull. After all, it isn't like tattooing a big 'ole "L" on your forehead...
Last edited by HorizontalMike; 09-10-2020 at 06:45 AM.
So I was thinking. Due to the hard recoil and scarce expensive .38 ammo for my 642, how about a nice SW22 Victory for the range? But .22 rimfire is also scarce.
My SW22 Victory is my favorite range gun. 22LR tends to be significantly less scarce than .38.
With all the talk about dry firing, I haven't noticed anyone bringing up adding a Crimson Trace, or equivalent laser to their J-Frame. I have and have found that absolutely necessary for determining how one's tendency to jerk/pull to the side/up-down when pulling the DA trigger...
It doesn't take much time at all to actually pay for the CT-laser, by counting just how many rounds have "NOT" been shot...
I have a 642 CT, and do think dry firing with the laser saves scarce and expensive ammo.
Dry firing with an easy and smooth Apex trigger kit installed, I pull the trigger back until the tip of the finger touches the opposing thumb, and then pause. With the trigger on a "hair", and both the sights and the laser on the target, the laser shows if the aim wiggles when the trigger releases.
The muscle memory transfers to the range where accuracy improves with fewer shots. I find the laser distracting there and prefer sights only.
Last edited by vintage40s; 09-10-2020 at 02:36 PM.
My God. 80¢/round. And to think that I turned down a ton of 130 Gr FMJ during the Great Walmart Evil Ammo Sell-off at half of Walmart's then current everyday price.
Side effect of no ammo, shooting range is a lot less crowded and most people there are aiming fire, not mag dumping spray and pray. Lot fewer magnums and AR's, AK's. Makes it easier to shoot between loud booms right next to you.
Save all your fired brass cases ...if they are the reloadable kind .
At some point in time you may want to look into reloading .
I started reloading and casting bullets in 1967 ... I've never had an ammo shortage . A Lee Hand Press and a set of reloading dies let's me assemble ammo sitting at this computer desk I'm sitting at ... Think about it .
My advice , get a free Lee Catalog and see what they have to offer and buy only ammo that can provide reloadable cases ...
Brass with Boxer priming .
It seems the new normal is a big ammo shortage every few years ...don't know why but it's happening now on a regular basis ... I'm ready for them , are you !
Gary
That’s what I did. I saved brass for years just in case I ever started reloading. Then Newtown happened. Been reloading ever sense. Powder is still easy to find. It’s primers near me. But I see them every now and then. Just saw 2000 small rifle primers. I took 1000. Leave some for the next guy. I have more than enough for now.
A year ago guys in here laughed when I told them I reload 9MM. Whose laughing now? I loaded 100 rounds on Sunday. Total cost maybe 13 bucks. My equipment is long paid for. I have enough components to shoot for years at my rate. That’s what I’m gonna concentrate on buying now. Components.
I'm married to a gun-disliker, too. But she was gotten used to it. We've been married 28 years. Apparently, she doesn't pay much attention to those cardboard boxes tucked away in the closets. Laziness, on her part, has its advantages for me.
.....
A year ago guys in here laughed when I told them I reload 9MM. Whose laughing now? I loaded 100 rounds on Sunday. Total cost maybe 13 bucks. My equipment is long paid for. I have enough components to shoot for years at my rate. That’s what I’m gonna concentrate on buying now. Components.
Last year this month, I purchased 1k of 9mm for just $13.50/box from MWUSA. Earlier purchases in 2018 were $16.99/box. Lesson learned is that it does pay to pay attention for SALEs from time to time.
I have ~1k of once fired 9mm brass now, and those will reload for much less than the $13.50/box,... maybe half that or less. Reloading is GOOD!
I have ~1k of once fired 9mm brass now, and those will reload for much less than the $13.50/box,... maybe half that or less. Reloading is GOOD!
How or where do you shoot that you can collect all your 9mm brass? Both indoor ranges where I shoot prohibit brass chasing and the outdoor club where I used to shoot would have meant I could dig maybe 50% out of the sand, brush and bushes.
Revolver brass... yes! I get it. Semi-auto brass? Not so much.
During these panics when ammo is hard to find there are often side comments and discussions such as "You may want to get into reloading."......or us reloaders (I'm one of them) will say something like "Thank goodness I reload!" - as if that's a magic bullet during a pandemic.
Preparing for a panic involves stocking up. Whether one is stocking up on ammo or stocking up on components it really doesn't matter. When there's an ammo drought at least one of the components is also unavailable. A reloader only has as much "ammo" as their smallest inventory of the three components.
Reloading specifically doesn't help one get through a panic. Stocking up does.
I have years of 9mm components laid up. I stocked up on components because I happen to reload. But I decided to stock up because I've lived through previous panics. A stockpile of components is no different than someone else's stockpile of ammo in terms of being able to weather the panic.
How or where do you shoot that you can collect all your 9mm brass? Both indoor ranges where I shoot prohibit brass chasing and the outdoor club where I used to shoot would have meant I could dig maybe 50% out of the sand, brush and bushes.
Revolver brass... yes! I get it. Semi-auto brass? Not so much.
I stay home for all of my handgun (revolver & semiautomatic) practice. That means I collect 100% of my fired brass, except for those strays that roll under my table saw, jointer, or other piece of shop equipment... My max distance, from inside my shop/garage, is about 12-13yd. That is more than enough for this old man's SD/HD practice, BTW my home is only 12yd long!
Last edited by HorizontalMike; 09-17-2020 at 07:28 AM.
I stay home for all of my handgun (revolver & semiautomatic) practice. That means I collect 100% of my fired brass, except for those strays that roll under my table saw, jointer, or other piece of shop equipment... My max distance, from inside my shop/garage, is about 12-13yd. That is more than enough for this old man's SD/HD practice, BTW my home is only 12yd long!
And to think that I turned down a ton of 130 Gr FMJ during the Great Walmart Evil Ammo Sell-off at half of Walmart's then current everyday price. 
What a deal! 
Both indoor ranges where I shoot prohibit brass chasing and the outdoor club where I used to shoot would have meant I could dig maybe 50% out of the sand, brush and bushes. 
Not so much. 
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