Is it getting better or did I just have some luck.

The local gun shop only had some small pistol magnum primers,  limit 300.  100 round limit.  They had some cheap Remington .22lr, .223 steel and brass, 9mm .38, .45ACP, no .40.  Their gun racks and display cases that was once pretty bare had a good selection.  My wife got a new LCR.

They said people have actually started to bring guns in to sell.
Cabela's had powder.  No primers or brass.  practically no ammo.

Bullseye pistol box

I broke down and bought a bullseye pistol box.  I've been using my Midway USA bag but, I got a spotting scope and the box has a built in mount.  I looked around on the web and other than some wooden home grown or old used boxes. I determined the best option is the Strong Case box.  BullseyeGear.com is the place to go to get them.

Another guy in my league has the 3 gun box (SRC-2008) but, he was thinking about adding the optional bottom drawer.  I decided to just go with the larger 4 gun case instead (SRC-1812).  It's big but, I like the extra room.  Everything that was in my large Midway USA competition range bag fits in this case with no problems.  The large Simmons spotting scope I have fits in the bottom with no trouble, while still on the mount.

When the lid is open there are two thumb screws you tighten to keep the wind from blowing it closed.  I've seen older wooden boxes use big spring clips to hold them open.  The box itself isn't too heavy.  Even loaded with 2 pistols, ammo and all my other stuff it still lighter than my wife's suitcases when we go on vacation.  It's got a good handle.  There are two loops on the top for the included shoulder strap but, it's awkward to use the strap on a box this big.  It also comes with two keys, as the box can be locked.

The slide out drawer is really nice and even with 2 heavy pistols in it the box won't tip with the drawer fully extended.  They also include rubber mats for the tray and bottom section, a nice touch.  I'm really happy with the purchase.

That Guy

Do you just carry or are you that guy?  At work I’m the guy people come to when there car battery is dead because they know I’ll have jumper cables.  I also have a full first aid kit with trauma sponges, tow strap, road flares, gloves, knife, pen, notebook, rags, hand cleaner, bungies, ratchet straps, zip ties, duck tape, etc.  I’m not worried my car will break down and I don’t drive a tow truck.  I’m just commuting to work.  I’m just that guy, who likes to be prepared.  When we go camping I pack too much of everything except maybe clothes, I am a guy after all, I can wear those pants more than once or twice.

The same philosophy applies to protecting myself, family and friends.  Pocket light, knife, extra rounds, etc but, just having things isn’t enough.  I have a plan, I practice with my carry gun, I compete with it.  Not just with a little but, a lot.  Either at the range or dry fire, both equally important in my book.  A new holster would mean hours of practice.  Drawing, standing, sitting down, while seat belted in my truck, different types of clothes, etc.  It’s important to me that I be proficient with my firearm.  Not just at 3 yards but, out to 25. kneeling , on your back or laying in a ditch for cover.  The chances of needing these skills are slim.  I’ve been carrying for over 20 years, never fired a shot in self defense.  I had a couple of situations that I got out of just short of drawing.  I think carrying a firearm has taught me more about getting out of those situations or avoiding them altogether.  It’s made me more aware.  Not paranoid, just more careful about certain choices. I don't want to deal with the consequences of defending myself or my family but, I don't want to deal with the pain and anguish of losing someone I care about to a criminal either.

So are you the person who carries a large caliber, high capacity firearm that gets shot once every few months?  The person who doesn't practice or compete?  How long has that expensive carry ammo been in that magazine?  Your idea of increasing your odds is larger caliber?  Or do you always sit with your back to the door when you go out to dinner?  Look for an alternate exit? Lock your doors as soon as you get in your vehicle?  Wait for the garage door to close before pulling away?  Get funny looks from your wife as you practice dry fire in the basement?

Are you that guy?  For your family you should be.  If you care enough to carry than you should care enough to be better than the other guy, much better.  It’s shouldn't be too much to ask.

It's not really about the rifle

It's not the rifle. There were 19 times more murders by handguns. More people were murdered by knives and cutting instruments than rifles. More people were murdered by blunt objects. Almost twice as many were murdered by hand, fist, feet, etc. than by a rifle.
reference:FBI Crime Stats by weapon

So what does the rifle really have to do with anything? You could ban all rifles and the impact would be insignificant. So where is the reasoning? Targeting the rifle is just a stepping stone to a bigger agenda. I read somewhere that the average number of shots fired is 2.5, so how can you justify a magazine ban.

What about the mass shootings? All of them in the have occurred in gun free zones, except when Gifford was shot, 6 people were killed (12 injured). Gun free Virginia tech 32 killed (17 injured), gun free Newtown 26 killed, gun free Aurora theater 12 killed (58 injured), gun free Ft. Hood 13 killed (29 injured), etc.

So tell me how is banning rifles or high capacity magazines going to prevent more deaths than removing restrictions on gun free zones? Saving lives is not what there proposed ban is about.

And now for something completely different

The league doesn't officially start until January but, we still shoot weekly.  I score my targets for an online postal league over at bullseyeforum.net.  It's a good time to try things you normally wouldn't do when competing.  Changing your grip, stance, ammo, maybe a new pistol.  This past week we threw in a little low light carry gun action after shooting bullseye.  I shoot my snubbie pretty well but, the sights were not designed for night time shooting.  The front ramp is almost invisible and there is no back site, just a grove in the top of the gun.  We didn't score, this was just to give us something to go buy.  We still had some light in the room but, it was behind me.  My shadow blacked out the sights.  I could barely make them out.  I was still on target, just a little higher than I should be.  We were shooting at about 10 yards and had 5 seconds to pick up the gun from the table and close the cylinder as dictated by the range rules.  We are not permitted to draw from a holster and if the gun is down the cylinder must be open or in the case of a semi-auto the slide must be locked back.

Even though I hit the target at a reasonable distance, I really saw the weakness in the sights.  I had already thought about laser grips but, this really has made up my mind.  How often do you shoot in the dark?

Your gun

It doesn't matter what caliber it is.  

It doesn't matter what brand it is.

It doesn't matter who else uses it.

It doesn't matter how much you paid for it.

What matters is that you know everything about it. 

You know how to operate it.

You know what it likes to be fed.

You know how to use it safely.

You know it's limitations.

You know it will run if you need it to.

As for yourself.

You need to train.

You need to practice.

You need to know your limitations.

You need to know the laws.

You need to be prepared.

You need to carry all the time, not just when you think you might need it.

Hero threw stools at gunman

Seattle hero who hit gunman identified - CNN.com:

'via Blog this'

I commend the guy, but it would have been better if he had sent some led his way.