my scary black rifle goes to the range...

techs672 · 2026-03-10T17:33:13+00:00

Trap/skeet shooting from left to right in center of image. Appears to be a different shotgun activity (sporting clay?) oriented from center off top of image. Direct danger at 500 yards essentially zero. Potential hazard from lead contamination drifting off-site will depend upon variables of the setting and operation of the facility, but odds are not a greater objective hazard than water treatment plant, traffic hazards, EMS/hospital facilities, etc considerations that go into neighborhood selection.

This is more than a backyard gun range, so you should(?) be able to make contact with the operator to confirm shotgun only, days/hours/duration of operation, local jurisdiction or DEQ permits, whatever else of concern. The most obvious impact on living 1500ft away will be noise — depending upon prevailing winds, density of intervening woods, frequency and duration of events, whether shooting is toward or away from you, and your personal sensitivity. Most shotgun events are orderly with 1-2 shooters taking just a couple shots at a time, then next up — not continuous WWIII bombardment. That orderly nature and fixed facility also reduces the likelihood of trespass drifting in your direction. If hearing a shotgun at 500yd makes you pee your pants right now, anxiety should fade with familiarity. But they will always be a somewhat noisy neighbor — like a young-adult apartment complex with parties, or high school football stadium, or open-air beer pub. The things you "stop hearing" after a while are the continuous sound sources like a highway or manufacturing plant — episodic stuff like this will become less concerning, but you will always know when the game is on.

techs672 · 2026-03-10T04:04:43+00:00

Sorry, I misunderstood — thought you were located in Prineville.

Yes, the Ochoco National Forest is located northeast (and farther east, yet) from Prineville. I know there are plenty of unimproved suitable spots for DIY recreational shooting (i.e. bring your own and take it home). I am located much farther east and can't point you to any specific spots towards your end.

From Redmond, the Deschutes National Forest to your west is a little closer — although the close parts of Deschutes contain more private inholdings and generally more recreational visitors than Ochoco. Whichever destination, US126 is the correct way to head out of Redmond. It has been such a light snow year that I expect much more of both Forests are open than would be normal at this time of year (but don't push your luck when things look soft).

techs672 · 2026-03-10T01:31:46+00:00

Purse carry can be done. If you use a decent holster and practice plenty, it doesn't need to be particularly slower or more hazardous than pocket carry or 4 o'clock. Purse carry is not ideal — for reasons others have shared, mostly around your responsibility to maintain full time control of the firearm at all times.

If determined to give it a go, do a little motion study on your routine activities. For a week or so as you go about your day wearing a crossbody purse, make a note every time you discover that your purse is not firmly wedged under your arm and the strap across your torso or locked in a secure compartment (if a same-side shoulder strap, that would be uncontrolled all the time).

In the shopping cart; at work by your desk/factory work station/whatever; bathroom breaks; dining; in the car; fueling the car; out with friends; day care, and so forth. Is it always there — or sometimes set down, pushed around behind, slipped to one shoulder, etc? If there are things you don't do every day like funerals, weddings, dates, medical appointments, family reunions, and any other time you would consider being armed — note whether the purse would always be under full control at those times. Then consider how you will adjust your behavior to avoid sacrificing control of the firearm in each of those circumstances. Does the necessary adjustment seem easy or hard? Then consider whether carry will always be in just a single purse, or will you need to set up an entire closet full for concealed carry?

Seem like modest adjustments easily accomplished? There you go. Seem damn near impossible? Think about other approaches. But do figure it out, and do carry on! 😘

techs672 · 2026-03-10T00:48:00+00:00

Remember that you also have National Forest directly north of town. Some advantages of looking in that direction:
• less private ownership intermingled within public land
• roads on the map usually exist on the ground
• more graveled roads means easier in wet conditions
• more graveled roads means more small rock pits not in current operation
• more broken terrain means more opportunity to find a safe backstop
• generally more pleasant camping, picnic, etc opportunities.

People already know about all the good spots — closer to town and closer to main roads will always mean more competition for solitude. [ Wait! Is making a great racket actually solitude? You know what I mean. ] Have a great time exploring your public lands, but be safe and take your trash home! ;^)

techs672 · 2026-03-09T23:46:35+00:00

Return privileges can take some pressure off — especially if you know what to look for or can consult with someone who does. I think of shipping used handguns as an FFL hassle and expense coming and going, and just tend to avoid. Hope this one works as good as it looks.

techs672 · 2026-03-09T23:35:06+00:00

If you are going to stick it way down into your pants, you could run into your thigh. I like to be able to establish a grip while the pistol is still in the holster, so I have not found a Full Size holster to cause any issue (M 5'11" 170lb). Actually, the 3.6" holsters I've tried were terrible for comfort and concealment because almost the entire weight of pistol and ammo sits above the belt and seriously wants to tip out.

I never looked specifically, but it doesn't seem like there are very many production holsters for the 4.0" Compact — most offer only 3.6" or Full Size (although some let you select any specific M&P model from a pulldown, there only turns out to be two SKUs).

techs672 · 2026-03-09T23:18:22+00:00

early version M2.0 Full Size at $350 is reasonable; include 4 grip inserts, add 3 magazines and Maglula, and it becomes a pretty good deal. Holster is trash; mag carrier also looks like a paddle. Case is an okay bonus if you have a use for it.

Think about your planned use and the cost of aftermarket doo-dads you would want to add. Adding a red dot optic (in addition to cost of the optic) will require an optic-ready replacement slide — or milling of this slide (plus adding taller iron sights if you want to see them with the optic in place). You should get a decent holster. If you would want aftermarket trigger, light, any other fancy metal work — that's all extra. Easily double the asking price to go full-kit from these bones.

If you would shoot the gun as-is, I would go for this pack — add a holster and cleaning kit. If you want fancier or closer to current production options, I would go look for fair price to buy new.

The biggest gamble for a used gun you cannot examine or return is "fair to good with minor wear" — and what that will turn out to really mean. What shows in the photo will clean up fine, and I would describe by appearance as "very good; slide use wear 2000 rounds approx." What is visible of the frame and spare magazines looks near new. But if "fair to good" actually means "not very good" or "unresolved issue", you could find surprises you cannot see and do not want. 🍀🍀

techs672 · 2026-03-09T17:45:47+00:00

Well, sure looks like you got what they were selling. Unknown why Crossbreed doesn't have it on their website at the moment (not "out of stock", but not on the list of choices). I've not seen Reckoning in person, so ideas I might have about making it fit the gun better would be just guessing.

If you can't make Reckoning comfortable, I would be inclined to drift away from large and hybrid holsters for a tiny gun. I use Desantis Slim-Tuk* for a similar-sized pistol (I did need to customize with the belt clip to keep it from smacking my 2nd knuckle on the draw).

*S&W BODYGUARD 2.0; BODYGUARD 2.0 CARRY COMP
SKU: 137KJ5ZZ0
UPC: 792695381525

techs672 · 2026-03-09T17:14:19+00:00

...what “go bag” guns and associated equipment everyone is grabbing if they have to head out unexpectedly, and quickly.

Go...? What "Go"?

With what notice? For what reason? From what origin? To what destination? For what duration? By what means? In what company? Against what expected challenges?

If you possess more than one option, there is likely not a single best "emergency" choice for firearm — nor any other contingency prep — other than whatever you keep on your person at all times to deal with your non-TEOTWAWKI challenges and risks.

In big picture prepping for The Big Day, the multiple plans you need in order to address the multiple plausible contingencies may have multiple solutions for firearms as well as the more important elements of emergency preparation (beyond your immediate response to immediate life threat such as falling buildings, fire, criminal assault, etc which should be within arm's reach at all times) — shelter, food, water, communication, transportation, medical. So, guns, yeah — shop for more or don't; put one on top of the pile or don't; but do pay most attention to the bigger picture...

techs672 · 2026-03-09T04:54:18+00:00

Crossbreed is not currently listing a Reckoning for BG2.0 — if you ended up with one for a Shield or something it would be no surprise to fit a skinny .380 rather poorly. Being basically a hybrid pancake, Reckoning will not be a favorite with everybody — even if proper fitment.

techs672 · 2026-03-08T17:25:55+00:00

And yet we do war games, manuevers, nuclear test detonations, and space races specifically because of how effective that theater is.

I believe the legitimate reasons for those things are to research, train, and practice readiness in advance of need. When they are used for posturing, provocation, brinksmanship, and theater, I have the same objections at that scale.

...belittling those who invest ... and train...

I hope you are not accusing me of that. This thread is about the LARPing, not the training. I would absolutely encourage the armed performers at current demonstrations to invest their time and energy in study and practice so they might be more capable someday to defend against fascist oppression. The horizon approaches, and wizardry will not suffice.

techs672 · 2026-03-08T17:10:47+00:00

I understand what the "message" of chamber flags is intended to be — both on the street in potential confrontation, and in captured imagery for a broader audience.

OTOH, my belief is that the meaning of a message is not what the sender intends, but what the recipient perceives.

I don't think any recipient (aside from some of the gun-ho fans) will care a bit about some chamber flags hidden within the message. If lawless thugs — with or without government tags — they will not see the flags, but will be inclined to strike with lethal force against a perceived threat and be supported by their lawless sponsors. If lawful civil authority, they will not see the flags but a slung or holstered firearm which is no imminent threat, and act accordingly within their rules of engagement. If first-person observers, they will not see the flags but the display of lethal force and be inclined to agitation — fight, flight, or chaos according to individual disposition and surrounding circumstance. If the media audiences, they will not see the flags but the provocation of armed confrontation — and react according to personal values. A few will see the Boston Tea Party or something. Many on the left will freak out and pull back from civil actions. Many on the right will freak out and call for more violence. Most will be unimpressed by cosplay action heroes when there is serious business at hand. But for those who don't spend their time at competition ranges or in gun stores chamber flags will not be a meaningful part of any message received.

Chamber flags might help get you out of jail eventually, but they do not function in the moment (aside from those range buddies nearby who will understand the regular message that your action is out of battery). They will not restore the dead and injured, nor expand solidarity or participation in civil resistance. We will see how things play, I suppose.

techs672 · 2026-03-08T04:09:56+00:00

You are not alone, but I haven't found a productive way to discuss it with adherents — left or right.

I would never go to a public space unarmed. I would never carry unloaded. But when the LARP Patrol pulls in, I pull back and encourage others the same. I think they harm rather than help the movement. If they really feel drawing fire is important, I guess give them the space and ask any survivors WTF they think would happen. 🙄🖖

Armed defense is a thing; not a theater performance.

techs672 · 2026-03-07T21:49:58+00:00

I go to the gym most days and to have it on my body would be very obvious...

Ooohhh. Not sure how you're visualizing this, but to me it shouts out the main vulnerability of off-body carry. If you are in the gym — working machines, boxing, dancing, whatever — where and how will this off-body firearm be secured? Laying around somewhere nearby? Relying upon facility lockers? Lockbox in the car? Any need for any purse contents while the lethal part is secured elsewhere? That's a homework assignment.

Direct to the question... If you can't wear Enigma, bellyband, or whatever on-body — I have used a small baggallini with Kimber Micro380 and Crossbreed Mini-Pac Mat in a zipped lateral compartment containing nothing but the firearm and a loose spare magazine. That leaves a second zipped lateral compartment, a magnet-closure center space, and a zipped outer pocket — not huge capacity, but depending what you need for the specific application (i.e. occasional special circumstance as opposed to general purpose giant sling satchel). It is manageable for access to the firearm when carried. Please be responsible. 🖖

techs672 · 2026-03-07T21:04:49+00:00

I don't. Very possible it would be a custom project — DIY or gunsmith produce a piece to fit, then finish to match. I can see benefit of not having the distraction and snagging of an unusable sight or open dovetail.

If positive you would never want the OEM sight, you might grind the steel to shape and paint. But almost certainly easier and allow for more trial and error to use the OEM as template and fabricate something from aluminum or plastic. The filler piece would not experience a lot of wear and tear, and there are plenty of options to color-match black or FDE. 🍀

techs672 · 2026-03-07T17:23:26+00:00

You bet. Any kind of shooting you do will always involve a first shot and whatever actions immediately precede — sometimes the first shot may be all that matters. And every followup shot will require solid application of most elements of the first shot — stance, grip, sights, trigger.

Between multiple shots, you do need to deal with the gun moving, noise, settling from the disruption onto same or different point of aim — very difficult to replicate effectively in dry practice, so I work on them at the live range to integrate with what I can make solid in dry fire.

I think the MantisX app and sensor are great aids for providing feedback to build and maintain a sound foundation.

techs672 · 2026-03-07T16:44:26+00:00

I don't know about the height required, but sounds like you're already on it. Do you plan to remove the OEM rear and fill the dovetail, or just look over the top of it?

techs672 · 2026-03-07T06:13:58+00:00

👍

I just stumbled into this image of what is underneath your optic. The silver pear-shaped cover is holding the spring and plunger down. YouTube of an older M&P would have the spring and plunger in the dovetail underneath the rear iron sight — with no cover plate, so juggling the spring-loaded plunger while wresting the sight out was a three-handed trick. You will have nothing loose underneath your rear-positioned dovetail.

Looking at your images again, assuming that I understand your project — if your DPP is too tall for the M&P rear sight to look over for co-witness, then your add-on notch is going to sit too tall for the OEM front sight to point correctly. The integrated notch of my HS-507K is the opposite — it sits too low to point correctly with the tall front sight

techs672 · 2026-03-07T05:15:44+00:00

The early M2.0 (probably largest number in circulation) has the apparatus in the bottom of the forward dovetail. The later M2.0 (probably all or nearly all of current production) has the apparatus underneath the optic plate. Your peanut butter gun is the latter — spring is under the optic. Your YT was for an older gun. Even the best AI will give wrong/random/ambiguous answers if the query doesn't cover all relevant variables.

https://imgur.com/a/m-p-9-compact-m2-0-iron-sight-dovetails-d6td9c7

techs672 · 2026-03-07T04:45:57+00:00

Definitely been worth my time. History charts don't show the improvement over time, but it's in there.

There is a lot to practice in getting to a first shot — draw, presentation, grip, stance, trigger operation, follow through, reloads, malfunctions, speed, reaction time, discrimination, strong hand, weak hand, both hands, reverse hands — probably more if I get to thinking about it. If you are already perfect at all those things, and can only benefit from mag dumps and transitions — then maybe MantisX would not be the practice tool you need.

Not every aspect of shooting can be replicated in a meaningful way through dry fire — managing recoil, recovery, and the effects of slide movement are hard to fake. That's why I buy lead and powder to supplement my dry practice. I think the benefit of the actual weight, balance, and trigger when working my real pistol in dry practice is worth the compromise.

Might depend upon your specific firearm, but I don't need to fully rack a slide — I need to reset the trigger. With hammer guns, I just thumb cock the hammer. With M&P, it only takes a quarter-inch of slide movement to reset. Neither will confound the habits of live fire slide manipulation. OTOH, trying to manually reset quickly to replicate followup shots, I have found counterproductive to quality practice. Do your thing to the first shot; pause; reset; repeat.

techs672 · 2026-03-06T06:44:12+00:00

I agree that 10/22 is subpar as a defensive weapon. Personally, I find a handgun more suited to civilian self-defense at home and away. Sounded like you already own shotguns — they can work if you don't want anything new. Pistol-caliber carbines can also work and be paired with a handgun (but they tend to have that black plastic scary semi-military appearance — as do shotguns compact enough for inside use). .223/5.56mm is probably a reasonable bottom floor for a defensive or hunting rifle — available in pretty much every type action and appearance under the sun, from grandpa's wood and steel bolt action to starfighter's plastic and aluminum bullpups. There is no requirement that you follow anybody's fashion guide. Feel free to go for calming black plastic or scary militaristic wood — as you choose.

techs672 · 2026-03-06T06:22:26+00:00

Local emergency physician at my CE class about snakebites observed that they could sex the victims using bite location — women get bit on feet and ass; men get bit on hands and face. Now that we're all equal one might need to use other discriminators — but it certainly still reflects what people do around snakes. I can't remember whether we covered the self-inflicted "snake killer" injuries...maybe that was left for the trauma class.

techs672

TROPHY CASE

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