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Go with something mil-spec - Colt 6920, LMT Defender, Daniel Defense, LaRue, or an upper / lower combo from BraveCompany USA. These guns will stand up to hard use.

Avoid the hobbiest guns - Bushmaster, Rock River, DPMS, etc.

It may blow up a watermelon but when I can get a roughly 90% one shop stop percentage with garden variety 9MM HP rounds I’m not sure I see the advantage, especially considering the weight and handling characteristics of the gun.

Plus, the load your talking about is a specialty round - one specialty round. Which means it will be expensive if you intend to practice, assuming you can find it. I can go into any gun shop in America and will have multiple choices of effective 9mm loads that wont break the bank.

I guess will just disagree on this one.

The Taurus judge is not an effective home defense weapon. In fact, I would say it’s very poor in this area but obviously better then nothing. A .410 gauge shotgun shell is not an effective man-stopper and if you’re going to go with 45LC than just but a gun designed for that round and lose the unneeded cylinder length and weight.

In my opinion, the value of The Judge is for someone hiking or backpacking in snake territory. However, it is an excellent case study in the power of marketing.

You are a very lucky man to have known and learned under Jordan. Without a doubt one of the top, if not best, gun guys of all time.

I do have a copy of the book and thought it was a great read - a lot of very valuable points. I also liked the fact that he seems to have a good sense of humor which I didn’t expect.

“Rethink your decision regarding revolvers. NO handgun is safer or more dependable. Double action is the way to go. Many calibers to choose from. .38 Special should be the minimum for human targets. Hope this helps, and that you never need the gun, but are always prepared if you do-!”

This man speaks the truth. If you’re not going to extensively practice with the gun (clearing malfunctions etc) a revolver is the way to go. Simple to use under stress and if it doesn’t go bang all you have to do is pull the trigger again.

A couple of other comments...

1) Don’t get hung up on lasers. The primary benefit of a laser is to increase the profit margin of the manufacturer. I’m a big believer that it’s faster to bring the gun up and to acquire a proper sight picture than it is to search your background for a red dot while also tracking your attacker who will be moving fast. Keep the gun simple and your shooting technique as repetitive as possible.

2) Shotguns are great HD weapons. If you’re going to use one use 00 buck - not bird shot. Also, don’t buy into the “the sound of racking the pump will scare them away” comment. That’s bad tactical advice. If someone’s in your home you should assume that person means you harm and the last thing you want to do is give away your exact position.

3) If you do go with an auto pistol, the HiPower is an excellent gun from an ergonomic standpoint. My advice would be to send it to Cylinder and Slide for an action job to smooth out the trigger and a reliability job to minimize malfunctions. My advice would be the same for any 1911 - action job and reliability package. However, for autos I would recommend a Glock in 9mm (G17/34 for home or 19/26 if you want to carry concealed). They are cheap, simple to use, reliable, have a very low bore axis which minimizes muzzle flip, and have the same trigger pull -no DA/SA. I recommend 9mm because that’s what the platform was designed for and seems to function the best with.

Finally, caliber is not as important as shot placement. The minimum I would recommend is 9mm or 38SPC. Going up the ladder only increases one shot stop percentages by a point or two. So, you’re trading recoil management and faster follow-ups for ~94% (40SW) one shot stops versus ~90-92% (9mm). Shot placement is king.

Hope this helps.

Pretty cool but still basically an AK-47/74 design with increased mag capacity, full rail and slightly better ergonomics.

Whatever happened to the AN-94? I thought that was supposed to be the next great thing in Russian rifles. If I remember correctly it was far superior to the AK in terms of recoil management for auto fire.

“What he is probably trying to say is that the AR-15 upper receiver, which is not serial numbered or regulated, can be attached to the air soft lower receiver.”

This is correct. The article is saying a standard AR15 upper receiver group (which would contain the pressure and can be bought without background check) would be attached to an airsoft lower.

In theory I understand the concern. In reality, drilling that “one little hole” and getting the geometry correct so that the gun is functional is quite difficult.

Just buy a Lewis Machine & Tool MRP(Monolithic Rail Platform). It’s a bit pricey but is mil spec, offers a free float rail system, and the ability to switch between calibers in a couple of minutes. It’s the Swiss army knife of AR platforms and is high quality machines and super accurate.

For standard ARs I’d go with a Colt 6920 or Std MRP Defender 2000. Skip everything else.

I think everyone here is interpreting this incorrectly. The key phrase is:

“And I think the evidence points this out, that the Bush Administration was not enforcing law. So let’s start with enforcing the law that we have now.”

So, when they reintroduce the AWB the spin will be that they are just enforcing the laws that were on the books that Bush failed to enforce / let lapse etc. She’s teeing this up so it doesn’t look like the democrats are proposing NEW restrictions.

mew M-14 mags (made by Checkmate Industries for Armalite) will fit the AR-10 and M1/M14(.308/7.62).

The AR-15 is a .223/5.56 caliber rifle.

For the AR-15 I’d look at stocking up on Magpul P-Mags. Probably the best AR-15 magazine ever designed and cheap at $15 per mag. Get a few while you can.

Don’t worry about stopping power. A modern 9mm defensive round (Gold Dot, Ranger etc) will do the job.

Keep in mind that the US military cannot use rounds like these and that is why they want to move back to the 45. They are stuck with FMJ rounds which do not perform well - little to no expansion.

Contrary to above post, the G19 is not a full size gun. It is a compact. The G17 (original Glock) is the full size 9mm.

I own several Glocks, XDs, HKs, Sigs etc. In my opinion, the G19 the finest CCW gun made. 15 rounds of 9mm in a very concealable, slim package.

Springfield XDs are good guns but the trigger pull is awful and the trigger reset length is far too long. This can be cured by a trip to Springer Precision but I assume you’re looking for out of the box comparisons.

Get the G19, put a 3.5 lb transfer bar in to improve the trigger pull and make sure to get tritium night sights. This is all you need to do.

Do not waste money on lasers and such. Spend your money on practice rounds, training and learn to use your sights.

Lastly, don’t worry about caliber. 124 grain 9mm defensive rounds such as the Ranger and Gold Dot offer adequate stopping power should you do your part with decent shot placement.

Get the G19 and don’t look back.

A Memphis democrat involved in scandal - the only surprise is that the last name isn’t Ford.

I wish West TN could get it together and throw these bums out.

I guess my point was that they used the wrong photo. The photo is of an HK53. Notice the magazine - too small for a 308.

While I agree that the 1911 is the best platform for launching 45s you’re getting into a different price level.

An M&P will run about $550 out the door and will do an adequate job - same as Glocks, XDs etc.

A good 1911 that has been tuned for reliability will run you at least $1300-1500.

Still, nothing beats a nice, tuned 1911. Best trigger pull you can get in a pistol and, unlike the plastic guns, has soul.

I think that’s actually a 5.56/223. HK53 if I’m not mistaken.

Either way, a fine piece.

“I’ll take a SCAR light and a SCAR heavy, and two of the Magpull thingies.”

A big +1. I’m saving for the day they start taking orders for the civilian market.

One more rifle for you to consider - the Robinson Armament XCR. It’s a piston platform and is modular so you can switch between 5.56, 6.8 SPC, 7.62x39, and eventually 6.5 Grendel. It is available now.

http://www.robarm.com/

Don’t know how I failed to offer this as an option in my original post.

Guys,

I’m following both H.R.1022 and H.R.6257. I’m an NRA, GOA, and SAF member. I write my congressmen regualrly and will do everything I can to help avoid another AWB.

Given what happened to the Rats in ‘94 with the loss of Congress and the recent Heller decision I just don’t think they are dumb enough to put themselves out of office so soon by pushing for another ban.

However, both of you are correct in that it probably makes sense to stock up while you can.

Anyways, just didn’t want you to think I take gun control lightly.

Thanks

I'd hold off for a while on the 556. Sig is starting to come around and realize they need to incorporate more features from the 551-2. Current configuration is good but a bit front heavy. Iron sights are poor and need to be replaced with the 551-2 diopter rear and hooded front. Folding stock is a Magpul CTR and does not lock into position when folded. Sig is slowly starting to correct these issues.

If you really want a piston driven 556 platform today I would look at the rifles offered by Patriot Ordnance Factory or Leitner Wise before settling on a 556.

However, keep in mind there are several rifles coming out in the next few months that I think are more appealing and better designed than the 556. Research the Magpul Masada (made by Bushmaster) and the FN SCAR-L. Both should be available either by the end of the year or Q1 ‘09.

If, God forbid, Obama wins he won't be sworn in until January. My guess is it would take a few months before an AWB would be at the top of his list. So, you have a little more time than you think.