E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

Ever since I "came back to the world" from Vietnam, I shied away from firearms. Well, For many reasons over the years- kids in the house, etc. My wife is not into weapons and I do not want to shoot anyone in civilian life- gets messy!

I now live in Canada where conseled or open-carry of handguns by unauthorized personnel is strictly prohibited. Simpe law- carry heat- go directly to jail! If you do target shooting, the guns have to be kept in a lockbox, inaccessible to the driver, on the way to the range or club!

The problem is, even up here in the NORTH country, criminal activity is on the increase- street violence, murders, muggings, armed robberies, carjackings, hate crimes, and worse are all happening.

There are times when I miss my.45 ACP that would fit snuggly in my camer bag- ALAS! . I did, however, manage to hang on to my M-724 Switchblade and some othere rather large interesting cutlery. I did manage to scare off a few bad guys under the threat of some unauthorized surgery"!

If things get worse, I'll have to get a 3-D Printer and make myself a Glock!

Please do tell my wife about the blade in my camera bag. She knows that a Swiss Army Knife does not have a blood groove! The big knife fits in the bag, just neexy to the Billy Club (old NYPD Issue)

Leland22 Loc: Texas

Condoms-for other than normal use. Lens cover, emergency water container, dry bag, tinder, fire starter, fishing bobber, cordage substitute and whatever else you can tell your wife they are good for. :>),

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

I know!! What's that all about??

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I have been meaning to ask, why file off the front sight blade? The rest of us meaning who, what group of people. I have carried handguns since I was 17 in the USMC, later on a deputy sheriff and firearms instructor and after that a correctional officer/firearms instructor for the state of Colorado. I have also hunted in the United States including Alaska and then Africa. I have only heard of anyone filing the front sight down with Colt Single Action revolvers because lowering the front sight a bit allowed them to shoot more to the point of aim.

But what is it you are referring to?

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Let's not forget police officers are issued bear spray in the form of pepper spray. I have used it several times to stop attackers both on the streets as a deputy sheriff and in correctional facilities. It doesn't always work but usually does the trick.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I have been in many sporting goods stores in Anchorage but have never heard that.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I have heard of Black Talon rounds but never any with cyanide tips. Certainly it would be illegal to use them, dangerous to have around the house in case children would play with them, the cyanide part anyway, and most likely useless in real life. If you shoot someone with any 45 caliber cartridge why is cyanide going to be of any help? This is stuff from movies and not of much use. If I am missing something please accept my apology and explain.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I am missing the obvious reason.

About teflon coated cartridges:

Because of the publicity, North Carolina, South Carolina, Oregon and Oklahoma have laws that make it illegal to possess teflon coated bullets, while Virginia makes it illegal to use teflon coated bullets to commit a crime. KTW stopped producing these bullets in the 1990s and they're not encountered as much these days.Aug 1, 2012

Teflon coated bullets were idiotically banned in these states because they were called, Cop Killer, bullets because they were supposedly going to penetrate a bullet proof vest. Fact is numerous cartridges will penetrate a bullet proof vest even today. Those vests are rated as to what cartridges they will not allow to penetrate. Plain ordinary rifle rounds used for hunting purposes will generally penetrate many of them.

Dennis

Wyantry Loc: SW Colorado

Always liked my 1911 Series 70. Shot with the Sheriff’s dpt. squad every week for about three years. Got so I could make some thing/one “acutely nervous” out to about 80 meters.

Changes were to have a trigger job done, replace grips with Pachymeyer, replace barrel-retaining bushing(*) with solid-bushing/muzzle deflector, polish feed ramp, and buy several good magazines.

Would STILL carry it, but SO regs do not allow “loaded, cocked & locked” (A matter of “appearances”).
So have switched to SIG M-17 9mm w/ red-dot in Alien Gear level III holster. W/ four 17 rd. magazines (& Dpt. issued +P HP cartridges).
Fast, reliable & accurate beyond my capabilities.

(The red-dot took about thirty rounds to familiarize with it, and accuracy increased by a factor of at least ten times. I was having some serious problems focusing on front sight with current eye conditions).

(*) One deputy had one of the bushing spring-forks break while using — jammed gun completely. We all changed to solid bushings.

JFP

The 1911 is an excellent choice. I would however, not carry it in my camera bag.

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Thanks for posting. I have owned a number of 1911-A1 45 autos and one in 38 Super I wish I still had. One I traded for in Vietnam was a 9mm I wish I had kept. I think I traded a pair of aviator sunglasses for it. It isn't I like 9mm but that gun now is pretty rare. I even had a couple of the first 1911 models one having a commercial number. I REALLY miss that one. Hindsight can be so painful sometimes.

The 1911 I still have and carry occasionally is also a Series 70 and seemingly a very accurate pistol at 25 yards. When I had my own target range in Colorado I once shot a group at 100 yards that measured about 5 inches. Obviously I could not do that all the time and definitely not these days. But I had read an article by Massad Ayoob about police officer who ended a fight with a bad guy by aiming at his head from a distance. The bullet dropped about 7 inches into his chest stopping the gun battle. I wanted to see if my 45 did the same. It did.

I fully understand the Appearance factor. Were you in law enforcement when the Kel-Lite flashlight fiasco came around back in the 70's. The flashlight was made of aluminum and some people who attacked police officers were struck on the head to subdue them. Lawsuits ran into abundance and the lights were called Kill Lights. Not a good name. Most departments banned them. But what was accepted and may still be today was the identically made and used Maglight. As I recall we could use the 3 cell version but not the 4 or 5 cell version.

As I mentioned before Teflon bullets were called Cop Killer bullets but aren't all bullets capable of being cop killer bullets? I don't know if ANY police officer(s) were ever killed with Teflon bullets yet those bullets are still illegal in a few states today.

Thanks for the information on a great gun, still going strong and popular since 1911.

Dennis

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

I have to agree. Mine would be on me just in case the camera bag was stolen.

Dennis

Wyantry Loc: SW Colorado

“When in bear country” Alaskan Guides carry 12 Ga shotguns (3 inch mag.).
Number four shot and slugs are usual loads.

#4 shot has better chance of blinding and increases total shot-mass compared to 00 buckshot due to packing density. #2 shot would be nice, but hard to find.

therwol Loc: USA

I seem to recall that KTW made bullets that were teflon coated tungsten. Tungsten is a dense and extremely hard metal that has been used to penetrate tank armor. Tungsten has to be coated with something softer to engage the rifling in a barrel. I can't think of any reason for civilian use of such bullets.

Retired CPO Loc: Travel full time in an RV

Or short barreled (Remington model 600) .350 Remington Magnum rifles. I have one. When I lived in Alaska I had three guides try to buy it from me. No, really!