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If you do move somewhere in Texas, stay away from the border. That place is a ticking time bomb that hasn't gone off yet. Northern East Texas, between DFW and the Tyler area would probably be a nice place to retire to. Lots of shooting ranges, golf courses, national forests, friendly people, country traffic, etc.

Karl, You're a Southern Boy now...whereabouts did you end up at? I remember seeing that you moved, but don't recall where to. Yall are settlin' in OK, I take it?

Clemson, I'm positive you did the right thing. Although I'm certain you can cut a clean chamber, I'm also certain you would have lost this person as repeat business after you refused to buy him a new barrel because his accuracy sucks. There's no need to be associated with a gun that won't shoot. Sometimes you just have to pass. About all I might've recommended would be to direct the customer to either Old Western Scrouner, Huntington's, Cabela's, or MidwayUSA for the right ammunition and tell him to go shoot it. 7.7 Jap is just as capable of killing deer, hogs, and people as 30-06, .308Win, and 8x57JS are. If the customer is too cheap to buy a new barrel...he needs to cough up the dough for the proper ammunition. That, or trade the rifle off for something he'd be satisfied with.

Tony, **A man can't own too many tools.** I don't do much metal work but I do have a few projects I could tackle if I had the proper tools. If you have cheap MIG and an oxy rig and you're thinking about buying a stick welder, you really should consider a big chop saw and angle grinder to round out your metal working tools. You can pick both of these up at reasonable cost and they'll save you a lot of time and grief. With that said, you can fix just about anything with a good stick welder. Down here, we call a 220V stick welder a "cracker box" welder and they're almost a requirement if you own a farm. My dad has an Lincoln AC/DC cracker box and we've used it to build and repaired box trailers, duck blinds, etc. Its pretty handy to have. I'm going to buy one, one of these days, because I'll never be able to talk him into loaning it to me. With a good stick welder, an oxy rig, and grinder, you can fab up just about anything. Its been long enough since I've needed to do any welding that I honestly can't remember when you need DC+, DC-, or AC to weld with but I do know that certain types of metals and welding positions call for specific currents to be done correctly and buying an AC/DC welder will afford you the best opportunity to get the job done correctly. I would rate stick welder brands as follows: 1. Lincoln (what dad has) 2. Miller (what I used in shop class) 3. Hobart . . . 4. everything else As with all things, you get what you pay for! Also, I remember Fritz mentioning once that if you owned the right stick welder, you could buy a TIG attachment for it and use it as a TIG welder (you just don't get the high frequency starter current). I'm pretty sure this is how he did all his bolt handles. Best bet is to have cash in hand and watch Craiglist and the local stuff listings. In this economy, I'd bet you could find someone looking to unload a decent welder at a price you could live with. Keep your eyes open and you'll be needing to wire up a 220V outlet in your garage in no time. BTW - a couple other handy tools: buy a metal speed square and a sliding T-bevel. They're great for figuring out angles.

Howdy all, I discovered a new drink this weekend and thought I'd share it with yall. Its all rage right now. Its called the Bin Laden - two shots and splash of water!

You're too adventurous for me. My 'shrooms come from the grocery store.

I just saw it on the news - Osama Bin Laden is dead at the hands of the US Military! We got him!!!

Nonesense. How exactly do they plan to enforce this? Outlaw selling seeds and fertilizer? People have been growing gardens since before history was recorded. Any law to the contrary will only effect honest people who follow the exact letter of the law. Want to grow a garden nobody knows about to feed your family and friends? Plant it in the middle of a big patch of marajuana plants. Chances are, federal law enforcement will never find it and even if they did, they won't do anything about it. Go, feed yourself. Plant a garden and enjoy.

Excellent idea. Think I'll have one for dessert!

I kept mine up. I still like to wheel and deal a little here and there and its handy to have the C&R so you can get that M1917 you just won off Gunbroker shipped to your house and not have to go through the hassle of finding somebody still willing to do a transfer. Its not like having a C&R is a huge ordeal to begin with - or at least mine hasn't been so far.

We have a winner!! Tell her this and she's liable to never talk to you again! (Which is a win for you, right??) Getting back on topic - its passed time to break contact with her. She's jerking you around; end it and be done with her. No more of this foolishness.

There was once a man who met a beautiful woman and fell madly in love. One day he went to her, got down on one knee, and said "Baby, I love you. Marry me." And she said no. And the man was broken hearted and cried for a time. Then, one day, the man got up, dusted himself off and went honky tonkin'. He danced with lots of beautiful women, drank lots of beer with his buddies, and had a good time. The man bought all the toys he wanted and had time to do all the things he wanted to do. He hunted, fished, trapped, shot guns, drove fast, and watched football. And the man was happy. The end.

Although there are some people who just aren't meant to be together and get along great as friends afterwards, I do not suspect this to be the case here. If she wants to mail you your birthday stuff and have you build her a rifle, it sounds to me like she doesn't want a relationship with you but still feels entitled to be in some part of your life. In which case, I'd say you're being played for a fool. My earnest advise for you is to simply walk away from the entire situation. Turn "it" off and remove her and her children from your life entirely. If you weren't getting along with her kids and she no longer wishes to maintain a relationship with you, she has willingly excluded herself from any future benefits she may have obtained by being in your life. And, such being the case, there is therefore no valid reason for maintaining any form of communication with her. Tell her to return your birthday stuff because you don't want it and that you don't have time to build her a rifle. There's no need to "keep your word" or worry about hurting her feelings - that all became a moot point when she discontinued her relationship with you. Remember, you owe her nothing and she owes you nothing in return. *Cut ties and be done with the entire situation.* I can identify with what you're going through because I've allowed it to happen to me and have watched friends deal with this situation as well. The bottom line is: you have to do what's best for Sailormilan. Since you obviously weren't meant to be together cut ties with her and move on. Find a replacement. There's lots of women out there who are looking for a fellow like you and whom would probably make you happier. Don't dote on this one - just move on and keep on truckin' till you find that special one you've been looking for.

Charlie's pretty well done. What you see now is him thrashing about, dying a slow painful death in the media. I'm pretty sure he'll hit bottom and end up in either in jail or in rehab somewhere. The worst thing about all this is how embarrased his father must be. Martin Sheen has been on TV trying to defend and support his son and Charlie has more or less dumped all over him. Its really sad to watch. But hey, as long as we're all focused on watching Charlie Sheen circle the bowl, I guess we're not watching what's happening with the energy markets?

Guys, it sort of begs the question: Who on earth can run on the Republican ticket that would be electable?? I'm pretty sure Obama has the Democratic slot filled for 2012 - what about the other party? All the Republicans currently have is a bunch of rabble-rousers, noise-makers, and has-beens. Palin hasn't got a chance in hell. Likewise, I doubt neither Romney nor that former minister for Arkansas have much of a chance. Texas governer Rick Perry says he won't run (and I hope he doesn't). Who's the dark horse? We need a Reagan/Bush Sr. to get us out of the mess we're in and I just don't see anyone viable currently. I hope I'm wrong.

Ron Paul may be well qualified, but I'm not sure he has the persona to ignite a huge following and win the popular vote. I would vote for him, but I'm afraid that if he ran, he'd be another Perot.

Hang in there brother, this is a marathon not a sprint. I closed on my house December 09 and still haven't quite finished anything I started in 2010. Owning a home is an endless improvement project. There's always going to be something that needs fixing or renovating. That's frustrating but we all have to live somewhere. I will offer you this nugget of experience though - once you live in and work on some place long enough, you stop thinking about all the changes you can potentially make. I've been out here a little over a year and have finally given up on or forgotten about all the other non-essential projects I'd dreamed up while I was moving in. Other than I want an office and some rooms need painting, I'm actually quite contented with the way things are (especially now that I've been working on everything for 13 months!). Hopefully your wife will be as well.

Well gee...I guess I'm not critical enough. I watch both shows and find them entertaining. I also watch Sons of Guns and find it entertaing - pointless and lacking substance - but entertaining none-the-less. Entertainment is really the only reason I've kept my Dish Network subscription all these years. I stay so darn busy with the other gillion things I do that its nice to turn on the TV once in a while and sit and be entertained. 90% of the stuff on TV these days is BS anyway - at least Discovery has some entertaining stuff to show that doesn't suck like everything on network TV.

If they had any sense, they wouldn't be there in the first place!

Lookin good man.

Jim, Looking great! How did you handle opening up the action? Did you split the difference and open up the receiver from both the front and rear or did your magazine cause you take most of it out of the feed ramp? I've thought about doing a project like this forever but have always been warned off by the gunsmiths I know. -Jason

FWIW, a good friend of mine and fraternity brother from the old days is now lieutenant in the Guard. He's got a college degree and from what I've been told by some of the younger guys I know in his unit, he's a pretty good guy to work for. And he's gay. Not flamingly so; he just doesn't like women. I'm not one to associate with many homosexuals but I never once had a problem with him. If he wants to serve his country, I say go for it.

Interesting story. That fellow must be a glutton for punishment or something...

Howdy all, I think this is my first real post here this year! I've been busy renovating a house and haven't had much time guns. I've got a bunch of wood working/cabinet & furniture making type projects ahead of me and have been looking at used tools. My question is: what are radial arm saws and joiners used for? I understand table saw, router, compound miter saw, etc. but not these. I'm already buying a planer and new table saw. Why would I need a joiner and a radial arm saw? Thanks! Jason

Squirrel is delicious if you cook it properly!