geezerkid's looong lost post!
OK, I did say I had a long post that just "disappeared." So this time, I'm pre-posting (?) by doing this in a text editor. HAH! (Try and stop me NOW MurphyForumGhost!)
So, I know I wanted to start out saying, *** "
Thank You GlockPro Members!" ***
I've learned much from reading and taking advice from your combined experience! That's why, of ALL the choices out there, I've chosen THIS Forum, to be my trusted source for intelligent, (and even sometimes goofy-fun?) banter. I am truly looking forward to learning, and sharing as much as time permits!
(Um, you'll soon see, once I get started, I lose the "off" switch!)
I am a proud new owner of a Glock 23, recently purchased at a Houston Gun Show. -more on that later.
I have not owned a firearm since the late 70's. My most extensive experience was in the Army (73-76) with M-16's. Beautiful weapon, and while I was not in any combat situation (thankfully!), I fired thousands of rounds on many ranges. When I got out, the short "Colt AR-15 Carbine" model was just recently available for purchase. I bought one for $500. Lot of money then! My buds said, "Lets go to the range!" "No, the first shot would cost me $50., and it would no longer be NIB." (New In Box) "I know this weapon will fire if I need it to, I checked it, and I know it."
Any Vet can relate to that fact.
Owned a couple pistols pre-Army. Colt Cobra .38 revolver, and a S&W 9mm semi-auto, model 39. Both bought & sold in short time. Both great machines, wish I still had...
After the AR-15, I was at another gun show (mid-80's I think), just browsing. My eye caught a beautiful little all blued steel Beretta .25 Jetfire. Made in Brasil (late 60's - early 70's). The plastic grips were awful, so I made a set of nice Black Walnut grips for it. (I 'had' a nice wood shop when I was married.) An ex-Brother-in-law got that pistol.
So the fact that I haven't had any weapons in many years, doesn't mean I don't know them. Besides, Most of my (young & strong) career was being an industrial machine mechanic, with a high-pressure boiler license (to be Plant Engineer) in Detroit, where I grew up. Having to watch USA machinery, (some well over 100 years old, built to last forever), get packed up and shipped to China, as all of the support plants to the auto industry closed, was a horrid experience. Greed + Washington politicians = big dollars for few, and destruction of the middle class American worker. We will not recover from that. Who will build what we need for the next "big war"??? Um, by now you know, I often go off on tangents. Sorry!
Glock 23! Heh, From little research before hand, I went to purchase this pistol, sight unseen, other than the grip from an Officers holster? Houston Gun Show! First thing I bought was a 31 round magazine for $12.99. My buddy said, "Don't you think you should buy a pistol first?" "Yeah, whoever has the best price." Well, to my surprise, I was not getting any price break! All of the dealers were saying that, "Retail shops complained to Glock that we were killing their sales, so Glock set the minimum prices we have to follow, or we lose their business." Hmm. With TX tax, I ended up paying $607. for the box kit.
** If any member can verify that "show price thing", it would be appreciated! Though, it seems a bit off that they would all conspire to the same price. Being from Detroit, I still don't like it. Plus, I got a $25. parking ticket! No meters, nothing to indicate anything! (my first ticket for anything in over 10 years.) Grrr. Tangent again. Sorry!
Glock 23! Ammo. I had no money left to buy, and didn't know what I wanted anyway. Thanks to GlockPro, and every other site I could get info from, I decided on Winchester 180gr FMJ white box, for range training practice. Plus just got 3 boxes of Federal FMJ 180gr, from Gander Mountain for $11.99 ea. on Black Friday! For defense, I bought 2 to choose from; Winchester Bonded PDX1 180gr JHP, and Hornady XTP 180gr JHP. Gonna stick with 180gr, since it seems more available, and staying with one weight will be more consistent to get adjusted to.
(Is this long enough yet?)
I could go on about why I went into debt to buy this, but that's another post. I'M DONE FOR NOW (as the admins start considering another hard drive...)
FYI- this post IS longer than the original...
