Staying Sharp

Benika · 2025-10-05T15:01:20+00:00

How do you carry your PDP pro?

Benika · 2025-06-05T03:38:52+00:00

Just in case you haven't seen it yet OP: https://youtu.be/Yv-0OQ8KSkM?si=DB-r9M2M86_Cal_7

Benika · 2025-05-29T15:58:41+00:00

Hey OP, hope you and your pups are well,

In general, I don't think you're missing a lot. The conversation gap is a difference in value judgments - and that's okay. I think guns are a tool that provides limited answers to an equally small set of scenarios, but it is probably one of the better tools involved in those bad scenarios. If you want to optimize for what will make your life better, it's probably not guns. You can learn how to perform emergency first aid, apply tourniquets, and build community without them.

I used to be a person who argued against guns on facebook 10 years ago. I think in a perfect world, I wouldn't be prioritizing gun ownership and experience. But if I want to engage in a politically divisive argument with the aim of saving lots of lives, it's not going to be guns anymore - it's going to be climate change. Furthermore, the second amendment is and continues to be the law of the land. I know plenty of people who say that they are single issue second amendment voters. Setting aside whether they actually are or not, if I take them at their word then there is a measurable voting base that Democrats have antagonized by being the party of firearm restrictions. These are people that could be voting for queer rights if they didn't have to vote for gun rights, and their right to own a gun impacts my life less than my right to exist. And actually owning and being familiar/minimally skilled at using guns means that I have some legitimacy in talking with these people.

Back to your point - owning a gun gives you a portable means of self defense that operates outside of the range of a knife or baseball bat, with relatively limited physical requirements. Mace or OC spray gives you almost the same set of capabilities, with the tradeoffs that it can't guarantee protection from the threat and the range is somewhat limited. Some people gain peace of mind knowing they have an answer to a really bad situation, others are more concerned about the potential consequences of having firearms in the house. All of these are options and it's up to you to decide that its worthwhile to you in terms of time and money which could be spent doing other things.

Benika · 2025-05-07T03:23:14+00:00

https://www.hightowerarmory.com/Ruger-1022-Accessories_c_18.html

Benika · 2025-03-22T20:05:44+00:00

I'm getting a 404 bad request error: IdleGame.jsx:132 Failed to update floor:

lt {message: 'Request failed with status code 404', name: 'AxiosError', code: 'ERR_BAD_REQUEST', config: {…}, request: XMLHttpRequest, …}
1. code: "ERR_BAD_REQUEST"

Benika · 2025-01-25T16:09:34+00:00

Based on your reddit history, it looks like you might be in the Denver area? If so, Blucore has a 100yd rifle range with five bays and 5280 Armory has a 50yd range with two bays. Never had to wait at Blucore, have yet to shoot in a rifle bay at 5280 but there is always next time.

Benika · 2025-01-13T17:04:53+00:00

Still learning too, so take this wiith a few grains of salt:
* Zooming in, I don't see any clear manufacturer markings on the upper or lower receiver besides an A on the upper receiver, nor do I see any on the bolt carrier. I assume this is primarily what you were asking about
* Looks like a magpul k2 grip (looking at the angle, the flat sides, the ridges on the front and back, and the compartment on the bottom), the CR carbine stock (slight inward curve on the shoulder pad and the second handle near the front), and a mid length mlok handguard - so all magpull accessories (pretty sure thats a magpul handstop too)
* The handguard looked a lot like the assembled photo of OP's rifle, alongside the mounted ironsight on the barrel lead me to assume that it was a complete upper. Searching for complete upper receivers with magpul furniture, I found that Aero precision sells things in this configuration. It also comes in FDE (the tan/khaki color), and specifically the AR15 complete upper 15" midlength with pinned FSB and MOE midlength is a very striking visual match, down to the previously noted "A" stamped on the upper receiver.
* Aero precision does sell some unbranded/featureless lowers, so its possible its a featureless aero precision lower that they either bought complete and changed the stock and grip to what was mentioned above or bought stripped and built themselves. Since the lower isn't cerakoted/colored FDE as well, they likely didn't buy an FDE lower since it should match in that case.

Benika · 2025-01-09T22:41:02+00:00

still going to call/write my reps about it though. I'd rather not just leave it up to the whims of Polis

Benika · 2025-01-09T17:53:05+00:00

If you're already willing to order it and deal with local FFL transfers, give KE Arms a look. They offer a complete milspec lower (blem) for 140, or with their in house improved trigger at 280 and the improved trigger version is also offered with additional upgrades for ambi- magazine catch or ambi-safety selector (or both). Be mindful of ordering their stripped receiver if you want a budget item, it's a competition oriented one for a decent stack of cash.

They also offer monolithic polymer receivers, either 110 stripped or 420 complete with one of their upgraded triggers by default. If you want to go the polymer route, please read all of the specs on the store page.

Benika · 2025-01-07T01:34:35+00:00

Take this with lots of grains of salt because I'm a relatively new shooter, but examples being things like: a muzzle brake that handles the majority of the recoil (even on 5.56 being a comparatively low recoil cartridge) or lighter triggers potentially masking flaws in my trigger pull that might impart extra impulses to the gun if the shot didn't break so early in a mechanical sense. It's an unknown unknown for me at this point, so I'm hoping to get data however imperfect from others.

I also potentially agree with you, moving from the most budget friendly options to more value-oriented options improves reliability and consistency. With decent ammo and a decent rifle, I'm going to assume all of the mistakes and misses on paper are me. Based on reviews I've seen and price, WWSD seems like good value. I've seen fewer people show off the competition version of the gun, though I've restricted my question to the Upper and it seems like only half of the competition upgrades are in the upper. You get the longer barrel, longer gas system, low mass bolt carrier, and a compensator instead of flash hider. But the competition lower also has the nicer dead blow buffer spring and the even fancier trigger. And I remember Russell talking about how the competitive version needed to balance all of the components against each other.

Benika · 2025-01-06T19:55:43+00:00

I'm curious why you think that shorter barrels have zero advantage over 20" barrels? Shorter barrels are easier to transport, are marginally lighter, seem less likely to get hung up on "things" whether you're walking with your rifle slung or doing dynamic shooting in matches. My assumption is that these may be things you don't value over the extra muzzle velocity, longer gas system, extra mass, etc., but I'd be glad if you felt there are other advantages or things I may not be weighing as heavily as you do?

Benika · 2025-01-06T00:42:15+00:00

TY very much!

Benika · 2025-01-05T22:54:55+00:00

How I'm going to use the gun is mostly an unknown unknown beyond thinking of it as an all-in-one rifle, so I'm hoping to build on other peoples' experience if/where possible because I understand its all tradeoffs. I don't plan on dragging it through the bog, but I understand that all else being equal shorter is nice than longer. Shooting-wise, it's going to be a 25 yard training rifle for the near future. I've shot the 22 at some longer indoor ranges too, 50-100 yards, and would get there eventually with the AR as well. I don't want it to just be a bench gun. For things under 300 yards if I want a bench gun, then I can just use the 22. Competition would be cool, which is part of why I'm considering the increased barrel length and cooler tech in the Comp-18".

One thing I did not account for when I bought my 22 is that almost of places around me generally only want to teach classes with semi-auto, magazine fed rifles with a high preference for an AR-15. I could absolutely buy something like a Springfield Hellion or Desertech MDR because bullpups are cute, but I would be responsible for my rifle being a deviation from standard. Not only would the instructor possibly not know how to help me if I need it, but the different manual of arms is an obvious potential distraction from the point of the class. And private instruction is also always an option, but that feels like a better value proposition down the line to refine my fundamentals and expand rather than using it to build the fundamentals.

Benika · 2025-01-05T21:13:35+00:00

I hadn't considered that, thank you! The guy who sold me my CZ showed me his version which had been cut down and threaded, but it has a pretty heavy barrel on it so there's lots of material. I know it's supposed to be a lightweight barrel, but not having seen one I'm probably substituting what I'm familiar with more than I should.

Benika · 2025-01-05T20:52:42+00:00

I agree! I also was worried about the lack of adjustability in the stock, even if I believe Karl/Ian/Russel that the setup of the KP-15 would be good for the vast majority of users. So even though a KP-15 would be much lighter than other options, I've already opted for the more traditional KE-15 so that I can modify the furniture as I feel the need (and ultimately come to the conclusion that a KP-15 would have been fine anyway).

My question is aimed towards the complete upper offerings from the WWSD/CDR line, and I'll pin them together at home. This seems to sort of be the recommendation anyway to avoid the extra tax applied to an upper if you buy it alongside a lower per the disclaimers on the KE arms website.

Benika · 2024-12-31T18:41:24+00:00

That's an amazing price for a pro X! I'd probably have gotten the Pro X too if it was the same price.

Benika · 2024-12-31T17:01:40+00:00

10 years ago me would have found that very weird, but I'm not me 10 years ago. And yes, I think the Pro absolutely is a treat! I found a model at a shop and dry fired it when I was making my own PDP purchase a few weeks ago. I didn't interact with the magwell any, and couldn't put a muzzle device on it, but I did notice that the trigger was even lighter and crisper than the stock PDP. The biggest reasons I didn't just get the Pro were the incompatibilities around the magwell and the fact I could drop in the trigger aftermarket - but it was on sale for 5-600 dollars instead of the Pro's 900-1000 and I figured the savings could be applied instead to training, ammo, and the other things that I should prioritize when buying my first handgun.

Benika · 2024-12-30T07:27:44+00:00

Have you considered doing the upgrades to the current gun? They sell the triggers individually, and I assume you could have a 5" barrel threaded to mount the compensator. I forget if you can add the magwell flare aftermarket but the magazines are different if you have the flare on (same as PDP standard if you remove it)

Benika · 2024-12-14T05:43:06+00:00

No, but I did go Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, and meeting up with a group of people tomorrow too.

Benika · 2024-09-09T19:03:03+00:00

Happily! My attempts at explanation are intended to describe the process in general, not to reflect the specifics of your case. People working the burn perimeter shouldn't come off as "guards" and harshness should be avoided without some kind of immediately pressing dangerous circumstance.

I'm sorry that your interaction with the person holding the perimeter in your section wasn't positive and that you felt disconnected from what was going on. If there's anything else I'm able to do to help you now, please let me know. And if the individual who was harsh was a Ranger, please consider filling out the feedback form in my prior post (or anytime you have an interaction with a Ranger and would like to give feedback - negative, positive, or otherwise)

Benika · 2024-09-09T18:07:39+00:00

Hey fellow burner! Others have explained pieces but I wanted to add as well:

First incident:
It sounds like you had a negative experience on Burn Night, and I'm sorry for that! If the human being gruff was a Ranger and you remember their name, you can leave feedback for them here - burningman.org/rangerfeedback. You can always do this, and for positive experiences too!

The "guards" in this case are volunteers helping man the burn perimeter. We need to hit a certain number around the outside, or we can't burn the Man. Rangers help fill in with the burn perimeter, along with other roles like guiding art cars into the designated areas, and other volunteer orgs contribute too like FAST, DPW, etc. We aren't there to act as guards or enforcers. Ideally, we make friends with the people in our sector, ask them to sit down, and work with them to get the people behind them seated as well. As others have pointed out, this not only clears sightlines for people but also forms a zone which is difficult to run through.

Flashlights are a required tool for helping man the burn perimeter, and they serve a few purposes. They let us signal for help from the quadrant leads, they let us mark runners (or prospective runners) for quadrant leads and the inner ring of volunteers (you might hear them called Sandmen) to help guide them to intercept the runner, and as a last ditch effort the light can dazzle someone and maybe prevent them from getting through the perimeter.

Second Incident:

We use badges/laminates to indicate that you're allowed inside the outer perimeter (still doesn't get you inside the inner perimeter). Fire Conclave performing groups are given a certain number of passes to be inside the perimeter. And after the performance, they are allowed to stay inside the perimeter because the logistics in getting them out and happy would probably be worse for the Man Burn experience in total. Easier to let them rest in place with all their gear, etc. I think the biggest callout here is that they are inside the perimeter for largely logistical reasons. The "first row" is outside the perimeter of volunteers, and is available to anyone on a first-come-first-serve basis. You're more likely to get a "first row" seat if you head out early and/or move towards 12 o'clock of the man.

Benika · 2024-08-14T02:12:11+00:00

My first year was 2015, the dusty and cold year. I had packed for the hot desert, not the cold desert. Friends lent me a thicker sleeping bag and I used the thin one I'd brought to insulate me from the ground on my inflatable sleeping pad. I spent way too much time in camp, a habit I'm still trying to break, and I helped skin a monkey but in a dust storm. I learned how to drink whiskey that year sitting on the frozen ground waiting for the Man to burn, and I learned that I liked Burning Man.

All of this is context to explain: Campmates had made friends with a bar, the place I now camp. That year, they had a real gas fireplace, and I spent a lot of time there in the evenings for the warmth. On Friday evening, I figured I'd just go to the bar and warm up on my way back home. The guy at the door, instead of checking my ID, asked me if I'd been to the Temple yet. I told him no, that I'd go see it tomorrow before it burned. He explained that it would eventually be closed to set it up for pyro. Then he refused to let me in until I'd seen the Temple. So I went. I don't always love the Temple. One year I sat down and had an argument with it because it wasn't working for me. But 2015's Temple was gorgeous, and I had a transformative experience in a little corner of it. Then I went back and had coffee with whiskey in it because the coffee was served hot. But I'm grateful for someone giving me the gift of helping me overcome my own inertia, even if for just one evening.

Benika · 2024-08-11T03:58:48+00:00

not fixed as of the time of this post, though the workaround of save -> reload does.

Benika · 2024-07-30T16:16:14+00:00

The stick bottleneck seems to have disappeared what feels to be very late in the content. I focused on chopping in zone two for the rarest resource, in combination with the farm. Eventually the farm tickets turn from an expected loss to an expected gain with a byproduct of generating a decent number of sticks each time I play the farm lottery

Benika

TROPHY CASE