New to Forum from West Texas.

[EspiOne]

I just wanted to say, "Hi"

Long Time pistol shooter, since 1993, when I left the service the first time. 6 year USMC

I carried concealed until about 2004 when I relisted in the US ARMY. (I was told by the USMC recruiter, politely, "we don't have room for old (36 at the time) Marines who want to come back" )

I mainly shoot 9mm, .38/.357 and own a a Del Ton M-4, which I shoot at least one every two months, I recently purchased a Remington 700 SPS Tactical, which I am just beginning to enjoy and a Winchester 1300 Defender, 12 Gauge.

I compete in IDPA, once or twice a month within my area.

I am getting back into hand loading, so I am able to shoot more rounds down range, before my second enlistment, I averaged about 1K rounds per month.

Glad to find this forum as I am awaiting my CHL, I submitted all the PW via online, not mailed, on or about May 14th, after 30 days, I am still waiting. I check my status online, but I don't get any "useful" information.

Look forward to some interesting discussions.

[surprise_i'm_armed]

Welcome aboard sir. Thank you for your service.

Thank you for using white space (it's the reader's friend!) and laying out your firearms life.

What's your preferred EDC (every day carry) handgun?

There's a lot of knife carriers here too, if you carry one of those.

SIA

[EspiOne]

I first started out carrying a Firestar M43, got a very nice Mitch Rosen, belt, ARG, 5DM and SOS for that pistol. Afterwards, I started to carry a Beretta 92 Compact, (F, D, G), (felt I needed more ammo) in the same type of Mitch Rosen Gear and a S&W 940/642 during the summer in a ARG. After so many years of not carrying, (and not working out), I found I had to order an larger belt from Mitch Rosen to use my older leather.

I am planning to carry my Model 60 in a IWB holster (made by Holster Store), once I get my license. (for the summer)

Since I have not carried in almost 10 years, I am debating about going back to the Beretta 92 Compact, (since I already have the gear) or a Glock 19, since I purchase one about 11 years ago, (owned and shot, but not carried) and I just purchased a Glock 26, which I found to be an excellent shooter and I found a Mitch Rosen ARG Express line (ebay for $41), just need to order a new belt loop.

My preffered knife is a Benchmade CQC-7, which I have owned for over 20 years, (keep in car and change out after work) but I carry a Mel Purdue 305 at work. My fall back knife is a Benchmade Striker, (which is dull at the moment)

[bigity]

Wow, I had always heard/been told that changing services was pretty rare. I certainly wasn't going to switch to the Army after the USAF. :D

Which has better food? The Army folks on Goodfellow always raved about the chow halls, which was considered pretty much third rate by us airmen.

[oohrah]

Welcome!

Whereabouts in west TX? (or did you mean West, TX?)

[RPBrown]

Welcome to the forum

[EspiOne]

Welcome!

Whereabouts in west TX? (or did you mean West, TX?)

As far west as you can go in TX, El Paso, Tx.

[rtschl]

Welcome!

Lots of good people here and excellent advice on CHL in Texas.

[EspiOne]

Wow, I had always heard/been told that changing services was pretty rare. I certainly wasn't going to switch to the Army after the USAF. :D

Which has better food? The Army folks on Goodfellow always raved about the chow halls, which was considered pretty much third rate by us airmen.

Well, the story goes like this, 6 years working Community Supervision, (Adult Probation), stress, stress, one day, I Quit, I decided to go back in the service.

I have to say the food was about the same, but it was better in the army since I cooked it, at least for one year, I was a cook, but 2 years out of the 3 that I was in, were spent in IRAQ, so patrols, guard duty, and over watch for the food contracted employees from India.

In Rumors, when I hear about the difference services, USAF seems to the cream of the crop. The USAF life is top notch, but for me, 6 years in the USMC prepared me for a cake walk in the USARMY.

[bigity]

Outstanding :)

I enjoyed working on a base with the other services present. Was always nice to hear stories and see the differences and similarities - such as the USMC joke about being the Men's Department of the Department of the Navy.


And to know that even the Army folks hated that warrant officer that got the BDU cover that nearly completely hid his warrant officer bars in the black as he went around ambushing poor USAF students who had no freaking idea what a warrant officer was or what the insignia looked like. :)