September 2011 Archives

I've been a CHL holder for about 4 years now, and during almost all that time my carry gun has been a 1911 of some sort, mostly my Springfield EMP.

I still think the EMP is a great carry gun, lightweight, small but not too small, easy to shoot well, etc., but times are a changin' and the one downside is the 9 round magazine capacity.

I still think the odds of me ever having to use a gun to defend myself are small, but group violence is on the rise, and I carry only one mag more than I would like to admit.

So, with all that to consider, I have started carrying my M&P 40 Pro. Despite being a big ol' honkin' gun it's pretty lightweight and carries like a full size 1911. I'm using Comp-Tac's MTAC holster and have no complaints, I think they have fixed some things in the latest generation that I didn't care for in the older models. It feels a lot less flimsy for one thing. I set it up for a lot of forward cant and it hides the grip very well at the 3 o'clock position on my hip.

I think I'm going to get a M&P 9 when funds allow to be my primary carry gun though. I think the Pro is fine, but the 9 is a little lighter and adds 2 more rounds.

It's been a couple of weeks now since the wife went back to work, and it's been a big change for both of us.

I'm getting up before dawn (if you knew me, this would be a shock) and helping get the kids get ready. Wife has to leave before they are fully ready, so I pick up the process after they eat breakfast, then get 'em in the family truckster and take 'em to school. Then it's back home to work. Hopefully, I get everything done so I don't have to work at night. Around 3:15 they get home from school and I get 'em some snacks, help them with their homework, and start on dinner.

For the most part, taking care of the kids has been pleasant and rewarding. When they were in half-day pre-K I didn't really get to spend that much time with them during the day due to work. Now, I get lots more time and feel a lot more involved as a parent.

My work day is a lot more productive since no one is here to bother me, but even though the change in my hours was approved, it seems like they still expect me to be available 24-7-365. Have already got stuck on calls and emergency requests "after hours". It's a little stressful and hectic when I'm having to respond those things while my kids are fighting and yelling and doing what kids do. I kind of expected that though, and realize I'm lucky in this economy to have a job and some flexibility at all. I think it will get better once my current project is over, whenever that will be.

My "step-uncle-in-law" was shot while dove hunting this weekend. I don't have a lot of details, but he is expected to be ok. Last I heard he was having some more surgery to remove the lead pellets which had penetrated his liver. I believe he was shot in the back while he was retrieving a downed bird.

Be safe folks!

Even though trainers and "gunnies" do not recommend bird shot for self-defense, that does not mean that you can be careless.