Recent content by MNgoldenbear

Technosavant: It may seem like an over-reaction, but it's pretty standard procedure to go into a lockdown if there's a serious crime in the area and there are suspects unaccounted for. We're a pretty out-of-the-way school (nearest town of 10k+ is a good half hour away, hour to the nearest 100k)...

I have a permit, so I carry it with me. I voted for under the seat in a case, as that's what I do when I have to stow the firearm (going into prohibited areas). I obtained a lock box that secures with cables around the seat base -- not "bullet-proof", but helps keep me from worrying about...

Gee, I don't know if I'd buy "used rifle ammo", common or not. Kind of sounds like the old kiddie joke about the guy who couldn't figure out why the match wouldn't work, though it had worked fine a minute ago. :D:D:D Seriously though, you've gotten many good recommendations here. Surplus...

Laser-Cast does list a 200-gr RN. Does the bullet look "unusually pointy" for a 230-grainer? If so, that's probably the item. (Also, you did check the scale/balance with reference weights, yes?

It's mainly the quality of the scope optics rather than the magnification. A higher magnification with poor optics won't let you see the holes any better. I like the Kowa scopes as well. Probably don't need the fluorite coating unless you're shooting in marginal light conditions. The...

Biggest selling point is it's fun, in and of itself. Often cheaper -- you can use budget components, but even high-end components can be assembled into really nice ammo at a lower cost than premium factory. You can tailor rounds to your firearm or purpose. Search for that load that shoots...

I usually do 10. Nice round number, nothing special about it. Gives me an idea of performance without going overboard. I usually don't bother with tweaking the seating depth for my pistols, so there's an extra step I do for rifle/single-shot.

Tough situation. I know there is advise to use your vehicle if necessary as a weapon. Tricky with the family along. Definitely trying to create distance is a big plus. As griz noted, it could help prove that you had tried to escape the conflict. A "personal protection specialist" course I...

Check here: American Slug Shooting Association People there seemed to be high on Hastings slugs for rifled barrels. I had great luck with Remington and Winchester cheap Foster slugs with a 20" IC bbl on my 870, then decided to get fancy and get a rifled bbl and try sabots. Many dollars...

The Speer #12 lists loads for 40 S&W, 10mm Auto, and 41 AE using 540. A couple manuals noted that it's at least very similar to HS-6, but that loads an velocities cited in the Speer #12 are just a tad different, so I'm not 100% sure they're exactly identical. Could be just lot differences...

Definitely agree that you'll plow all your savings into shooting more. But the reason you reloaded them was to shoot them, so that shouldn't be a problem. The savings is in the fact that you'll get a lot more practice/enjoyment/hunting/competing/what-ever-your-game-is out of your dollar than...

Just because everone else is shooting at a certain distance doesn't mean you have to. Started shooting at about 30 years of age. Rented a S&W 4006 at an indoor range/shop and went out to the firing line. I'd read a lot and asked for some basic operation demonstration before heading on to the...

I can't address self-defense use, but I've hunted quite a bit and notice I don't seem to hear the muzzle blast or feel much of the recoil from firearms that I would at least notice the report and kick normally on the practice range. I'm guessing when protecting myself, I'd be at least as...

my $.02 Used .357 revolver and 20 ga. pump. I think you still might be able to swing both for under your budget (again, would need to be used to stay low in price). I know you said she doesn't want a revolver. You also said she hasn't shot anything at all. When I started shooting, I...

I'd definitely go with some kind of powder contamination. The brown appearance of the powder granules you describe sounds like the residue I get on loads that burn "dirty". (Not as in fouling the gun with carbon, etc., but leaving lots of unburned powder behind. Usually loses the coating and...