GUN STUFF

[DRKWNG]

Question from a gun noob...

I have a nice AR-15 that was given to me.  Trouble is, it's some match-special thing with a long stainless fluted barrel, no top rail (so the optics get in the way of pulling the slide back) and whomever built it did it in such a way it blows powder back in my face each time I fire.

What I'd like to do is to get a different upper for it.  What I'd like to do even more is get a different upper that is chambered in something else.

Can I use the lower that is chambered for .223 with an upper that uses, say...7.62?

Does it have a rail at all?  If not, where is the optic mounted?  To the "carry handle"?  If so, can't really see how that would get in the way of the charging handle.  

But as far as the gas blowback issue goes, give this a try:
http://www.laruetactical.com/gas-buster-charging-handle-big-latch

[ducatiz]

It's carried everywhere it can legally. (and everywhere else  )

amen to that

[The Bearded Duc]

why not? Are there only certain stores/areas where a crime could occur?

I dunno, but I would assume there are certain areas where it's less likely.

I'm actually looking to purchase a handgun now and if LA county offered CCWs without all the hassle I would probably have one of those also, mostly just because I could. However, I don't know that I would carry everywhere I went. I love guns and I love that we are allowed to carry I just don't know that's it's completely necessary to have a gun handy when I go for a couple rolls of toilet paper.

I guess I go back and forth with this in my head all the time. Obviously there isn't a right or wrong answer, just personal opinion and preference.

[kopfjäger]

I dunno, but I would assume there are certain areas where it's less likely.

I'm actually looking to purchase a handgun now and if LA county offered CCWs without all the hassle I would probably have one of those also, mostly just because I could. However, I don't know that I would carry everywhere I went. I love guns and I love that we are allowed to carry I just don't know that's it's completely necessary to have a gun handy when I go for a couple rolls of toilet paper.

I guess I go back and forth with this in my head all the time. Obviously there isn't a right or wrong answer, just personal opinion and preference.

So, in your opinion there is a right and wrong place to carry?

[The Bearded Duc]

So, in your opinion there is a right and wrong place to carry?

I don't know.

I guess for me, there is. I'm certainly not the guy who says "it'll never happen to me" but my odds have been good so far. Maybe it depends on risk factor? Maybe I wouldn't venture into a heavily gang populated area without a gun but I doubt I would venture into a heavily gang populated area anyway.

If someone were robbing the store you were in would you pull your gun and try to deescalate situation? And who's to say it wouldn't turn into a shoot out? Does you carrying a gun inherently make things safer or crime less likely to happen? I guess you can argue preparation but it doesn't make it less likely. I'm not too familiar with gun laws yet so I don't know what the ramifications are if your gun is fired at someone trying to rob someone else.

You/I can train ourselves on the proper usage of our gun/s but how would you train for what the other person is going, or willing, to do? I'm not convinced that even the police or military or anyone else trained in combat/enforcement can predict what someone else will do.

Again, I plan on exercising my right to purchase a handgun in the very near future so by no means am I trying to be a martyr.

[kopfjäger]

I don't know.

I guess for me, there is. I'm certainly not the guy who says "it'll never happen to me" but my odds have been good so far. Maybe it depends on risk factor? Maybe I wouldn't venture into a heavily gang populated area without a gun but I doubt I would venture into a heavily gang populated area anyway.

If someone were robbing the store you were in would you pull your gun and try to deescalate situation? And who's to say it wouldn't turn into a shoot out? Does you carrying a gun inherently make things safer or crime less likely to happen? I guess you can argue preparation but it doesn't make it less likely. I'm not too familiar with gun laws yet so I don't know what the ramifications are if your gun is fired at someone trying to rob someone else.

You/I can train ourselves on the proper usage of our gun/s but how would you train for what the other person is going, or willing, to do? I'm not convinced that even the police or military or anyone else trained in combat/enforcement can predict what someone else will do.

Again, I plan on exercising my right to purchase a handgun in the very near future so by no means am I trying to be a martyr.

Smoke a bowl bro.

[zarn02]

This is just my 2¢. If anybody thinks I've completely missed the mark on anything, feel free to call me out on it. Discussion is healthy.

I guess for me, there is. I'm certainly not the guy who says "it'll never happen to me" but my odds have been good so far. Maybe it depends on risk factor? Maybe I wouldn't venture into a heavily gang populated area without a gun but I doubt I would venture into a heavily gang populated area anyway.

If you're going to be carrying a weapon, you need to be comfortable carrying it anywhere you might go. The whole point is being prepared for a lethal force situation, and if you pair "I'll only carry when I go dangerous places" with "I don't really go dangerous places" then it seems that you'll arrive eventually at "I don't carry."

If someone were robbing the store you were in would you pull your gun and try to deescalate situation?

I don't really think you can deescalate a situation by pulling a gun. At the point you point a loaded gun at someone, deescalation has failed and you've moved on to "change the balance of power in my favor." Threatening someone with lethal force should imply a willingness to use that force, and killing someone is about as "escalated" as it gets.

You/I can train ourselves on the proper usage of our gun/s but how would you train for what the other person is going, or willing, to do? I'm not convinced that even the police or military or anyone else trained in combat/enforcement can predict what someone else will do.

You can't predict with total certainly what another person will do, no. But I think that misses the point.

You can make judgments regarding the apparent likelihood of another person doing a given thing, and you can make judgments regarding the consequences of that thing.

But before you find yourself in such a situation, you must have mental policies in place about these things, informed by moral and legal considerations. "I will only brandish my weapon if [blank]," "I will only shoot another person, potentially killing them, if [blank]," etc.

[kopfjäger]

^^^

[sno_duc]

Zarn brought up many good points.
Something else to consider, many parts of the US have a huge meth problem.
The person(s) that you may have "social" encounters with where a firearm is needed may be strung out on meth or jones'in for more meth.
Did not assume they are capable of rational thought or feel pain. To them it may be some weird video game.
Best policy is to stay alert and avoid setting yourself up. If the voice is in back of your head says " Danger!", listen, and back pedal.

[Monsterlover]

True enough.

Situational awareness is key

[The Bearded Duc]

This is just my 2¢. If anybody thinks I've completely missed the mark on anything, feel free to call me out on it. Discussion is healthy.

If you're going to be carrying a weapon, you need to be comfortable carrying it anywhere you might go. The whole point is being prepared for a lethal force situation, and if you pair "I'll only carry when I go dangerous places" with "I don't really go dangerous places" then it seems that you'll arrive eventually at "I don't carry."

I don't really think you can deescalate a situation by pulling a gun. At the point you point a loaded gun at someone, deescalation has failed and you've moved on to "change the balance of power in my favor." Threatening someone with lethal force should imply a willingness to use that force, and killing someone is about as "escalated" as it gets.

You can't predict with total certainly what another person will do, no. But I think that misses the point.

You can make judgments regarding the apparent likelihood of another person doing a given thing, and you can make judgments regarding the consequences of that thing.

But before you find yourself in such a situation, you must have mental policies in place about these things, informed by moral and legal considerations. "I will only brandish my weapon if [blank]," "I will only shoot another person, potentially killing them, if [blank]," etc.

Great points, very much appreciated! Thanks Zarn!   

Zarn brought up many good points.
Something else to consider, many parts of the US have a huge meth problem.
The person(s) that you may have "social" encounters with where a firearm is needed may be strung out on meth or jones'in for more meth.
Did not assume they are capable of rational thought or feel pain. To them it may be some weird video game.
Best policy is to stay alert and avoid setting yourself up. If the voice is in back of your head says " Danger!", listen, and back pedal.

True enough.

Situational awareness is key

I completely agree. I feel I'm usually thoroughly aware of what's going on around me, in fact I often stress this to my GF. It seems like she's not so quick to notice things, good or bad, going on around her.


Again, I'm not completely opposed to concealed carry. I'm legitimately wondering what people think.

[The Bearded Duc]

Smoke a bowl bro.

Although I live in LA, I don't partake in the reefer.

I'll hug the hell out of a tree though. 

[ducatiz]

carrying is a fire insurance policy.  it's not a perfect analogy but just like insurance it is useless unless you're covered at all times.

[cokey]

Just familiarize your self with your state laws..  if I remember correctly, in ny you can't shoot some one breaking into your property in the back..  true?

[ducpainter]

Just familiarize your self with your state laws..  if I remember correctly, in ny you can't shoot some one breaking into your property in the back..  true?

Last warning...it's your second...

we don't do gun law.

Understand?