The Inland may go in "Harm's Way" again.

[imarangemaster]

Well, that's close, except the 653 clone has a 16" barrel that gives me about 3150 FPS with the IMI M193 ammo, so it is hitting harder than a military M4 with a 14.5" barrel. Actually, after my rehab session of the AR15, it functions 100% (except one bad round (Federal/Lake City M193 - almost a squib with very low charge with about half the report and flash, that failed to cycle). n With the exception of the defective round, 90 rounds functioned flawless. In fairness, the shoulder is in decent shape now, but not up to a continuous diet of magnum shot shells and .308 battle rifles. I have confidence in the CAR-15 and even the carbine, having killed a deer with it, with one heart lung shot. There are untold tens of thousands of dead enemy that the carbines killed very dead in three wars!

[ChipS]

I have confidence in the CAR-15 and even the carbine

Well, confidence is 50% of the battle, but it wouldn't hurt to carry a good 6" .357-.44 S&W mag DA revolver as a back-up instead of the 9mm. I know we are talking some serious $ but what is your life worth. IMHO you cannot be overgunned if you are going to do this. I know you are experienced but please be cautious and careful to the extreme.

[imarangemaster]

Thanks Chip, I will be careful. As for sidearm, I am limited by California BSIS as to what I am qualified with as a sidearm, otherwise I would be carrying my 8 3/8" Model 29 .44 Mag! About half of my LEO career was a a rural deputy in the Sierras, kind of a "one riot, one deputy" scenario. I KNOW WHEN IT IS TIME TO BACK OFF AND CALL FOR THE CAVALRY. I really don't worry about bears, as they are more interested in going the other way. Jihadists, Mexican drug planters, and Mountain Lion (who, unlike bears, are not afraid of humans), the 5.56 should suffice.

[ABPOS]

I just read the last little article in my American Hunter yesterday. It was about an encounter with a mountain lion. Good read. Scary though. But the guy was fine. My cousin told me a story about seeing one up at his house, he grew up in the North woods. It was hair raising. Have you actually seen one while on duty and out and about, or just tracks. I have a friend who bought some newfangled recoil reducer stock for his mossberg 12 gauge and he said it cut the recoil in half or more and says it's now enjoyable to shoot buck and stiff loads. I can tell you what kind of stock it was if you're interested. I don't know if that would be good mountain lion medicine. I've heard some use slugs for bear though. I never did like shooting something that kicks like a mule, but that stock might be something to think about. Let me go see what it's called, it's on his blog.....

I guess it's a "knoxx" stock. Here is his blog about it:
http://www.joeandhisguns.com/mossberg-500-spx.html

Anyways, I know you are good to go with what you got, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

[imarangemaster]

Yep, seen two mountain lion in the last three weeks. Seen about 6 bear in the last month. During the summer, they were not as evident as the woods were full of flatlanders camping.

[TMB]

Sometimes flatlanders attract bears with their garbage

[HOOKED ON HISTORY]

Have you concidered a Mini-14? Or better yet a Mini-30 in 7.62x39. 100% reliable and the newer ones do not have the lack of accuracy of the earlier models. Kalifornia compliant?

[jmoore]

Have you concidered a Mini-14? Or better yet a Mini-30 in 7.62x39. 100% reliable and the newer ones do not have the lack of accuracy of the earlier models. Kalifornia compliant?

Purely opinion, but in no way would i consider a Mini 30 better than a Mini 14. And gladly trade both for one good AR. The only thing I'd do different, given the funds, is to not have a "kit" gun as a duty weapon. But in this case, it's a question of "which bird in which hand?" rather than a quest for a new "bird".

[jmoore]

Would be relevant to note that if you use the AR it will be in exactly it intended role as a guard's weapon for strategic installations? In this case not SAC bombers, but the idea is the same.

In all due respect for the M1 carbine, it has wildly exceded it's intended role as pistol alternative. But that's what I still consider it: a PDW or "super pistol".

[imarangemaster]

While I like Min-14s and Mini-30s, I much prefer my AR15s! The M1 Carbine is a good man-killer at 100 yards or less, especially with 100 JSPs. An Ar15 Carbine like mine is a good man-killer at 175 to 200 or less.