ahegeman

Beauty. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

This isn't intended to be an accuracy machine, otherwise I'd have got a match trigger, longer stainless barrel, etc. Its just a mid-range plinker. I've got my hunting rifles for making tight groups a long-way away. I'm also considering buying an Accuracy International L96-A1 down the road for serious long-range target shooting. The twist is 1 in 9. I've heard both versions in common usage. I'm sure "surp" is more technically correct, though. My bad. I am well aware of political ramifications of gun ownership. Thanks, though. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Just under $900. Bushmaster commands a premium price vs most other brands. Based on my research they seemed to have the fewest QC problems. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

You're not allowed to get one until you get your damn A license finished. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Yup - post-post ban, baby. Oh, and full length bull barrel for extended firing. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Here's my new Bushmaster AR-15. Its got a collapsible stock and 16" barrel. I bought a case of mil-sup, and have already put 100 rds or so through it. Its a ton of fun to shoot. I'm going out to the range this week to see what kind of accuracy I can get out of it. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

That's creepy. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

I'm surprised they didn't Taser her also. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Dude, I totally had that dream last month. I dreamt that I got stuck in the sky uner canopy and they had to get scaffolding to get me down. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

I took the FJC at SDD not too long ago, and was a bit taken aback by what I perceived as condescension as well, so I think I can understand where you are coming from. The instructor (different one from yours) was pedantic, simplified things way too much (I thought at the time), and seemed a bit put out when I asked why I should do things exactly the way he said. Of course, if you think about it, it makes perfect sense. These instructors are responsible for the lives of their students - if not legally, they certainly feel a sense of responsibility. They have to assume that all students are idiots because many of them are. If they assume someone who's perfectly intelligent is an idiot, then maybe someone gets a bit insulted - big deal. If they assume an idiot is smarter than they are then someone could get killed. And besides, as I found out, on the first jump its easy to turn into an idiot. The sensory overload is incredible, everything moves so quickly, and we are totally out of our element. If they are brusque with you it may be that they don't want too much going through your head on the actual skydive, as you are safest simply doing what they recommend exactly as they say. Its nothing more than a life-saving course that has been gradualy developed over decades with many hard-earned lessons. It is taught the way it is for a reason. I sincerely doubt that the instructor in question was actually rude - knowing her it seems inconceivable to me unless someone was disrepectful of her first. But I can see how your might feel intellectually insulted by the level to which they boil everything down. That, however, is a matter of necessity. As for many of the poster's responses to your post, you need to understand that you called out someone whom many of us feel is not just another skydiver, but actually the heart and soul of our dropzone. I've trusted her with my life on many occasions. I may just be another former student to her, but teaching me to fly has made her one of the most meaningful and important people in my life. Many others there have been though things with her that you or I probably can't even relate to. We are sort of a family over there. My suggestion to you is to forget your pride, remember the important lessons of the FJC, and come out when the weather looks good and do your damned jump. When its over you'll forget all this BS. Bring a case, hang out afterwards, put a few away with the rest of us, and join the family. Its remarkably easy. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

You weigh 540 lbs on Earth? --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Consider yourself lucky that Monday is burrito night. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Just because you're a lucky guy doesn't mean you don't deserve every pathetic bit of feces I can fling across cyberspace from my sad, lonely, empty, kissless house. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Who didn't see that one coming? --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Wow. That was random. Care to help me through that logical leap? I think I've got whiplash. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Well, hey, ya' know, if its not on video . . . --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Oddly enough, the On The Border by work has it on their import list. Yeah, imported to Fort Worth all the way from Shiner. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

I disagree with Kallend as much as anyone here, but that strikes me as perhaps a bit unfair. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Yeah, I ordered some of the manuals from then a week ago and have yet to receive them. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Definitely a way cool gun, but at $2.50 a round I wouldn't be able to afford to shoot it as much as I'd like. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Whoa - commie ammo in the AR-15? I'm not sure Mr. Stoner would approve. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Hey, thanks a ton, folks. I guess I needed to be a bit more descriptive of what I'm looking for. I want to punch paper at up to 200 yds, so I'm probably looking for about 1 MOA, but without going to a stainless barrel and a full-on match rifle, I'd prefer to stick with the toughness of chrome-moly. Is that doable? I'll be putting a scope on it, so it'll be an A4 upper. I've also heard that given the ballistics of the 5.56, going to a 20" barrel really doesn't add much to the accuracy or range. Kennedy, I hadn't heard about Wilson, I'll look into them. My employer had a good year . . . As for preferring the AR-10, 7.62 appeals to me also, having grown up on larger bore hunting rifles. Next year, however, I will get my 7.62 fix with one of these. The QC problems you mentioned have also given me pause lately. Everytime I look into it I hear a different horror story about a different manufacturer, everything from the wrong springs on to lousy triggers to chambers for standard .223 instead of the hotter NATO load. I've even considered buying a stripped lower and building my own, but I've never done anything like that. I've got an engineering degree, maybe I should just suck it up and build the thing but I'd feel better if I knew someone who had done it themselves. To be honest, however, a huge part of my motivation is simply that the ban has expired. I can't trust that it or something like it won't ever be back, and the thought of sticking my thumb in the eye of the gun-grabbers is frankly quite appealing. So yeah, I guess I'm torn between the accuracy machine (my bolt-action .270 roots) and the scary looking black gun with a collapsible stock, flashlight, laser sight, and a bayonet with which to give the bird to the likes of Hillary and company. Maybe I should just get one of each. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

It'll be for medium range target shooting mostly. I have read some about the barrel twists and have pretty much settled on 1 in 9. Thanks for the advice. --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

The important question is, of course, where can I get one of those bumper stickers? --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry

Any of you out there own an AR-15? With my recent bonus I'm expanding my gun collection. I'm getting a few pistols and a couple of shotguns as well, but I've got plenty of experience with those - what I have no experience with are semi-automatic rifles. I'm looking to buy new since I don't trust myself to thoroughly examine a used one. Anyone got a brand preference? I've looked at a couple of AR-15 boards, but reading those guys arguing about AR-15 brands (Colt vs. Bushmaster, et al) is like listening to skydivers argue about Vector vs. Mirage. How about 16" vs. 18" vs. 20" barrel? Anyway, I'd appreciate any advice anyone could give me. PM me if you'd prefer. Also, who here has used a Beretta over/under? Thanks! --------------------------------------------------------------- There is a fine line between 'hobby' and 'mental illness'. --Dave Barry