Cross-X said:PITA from time to time is OK by me.
What's a little snark amongst friends, right?
I've gotten into arguments with folks over practicing with a firearm. It usually arises in the revolver vs. semi-auto or shotgun vs. semi-auto rifle for home defense questions. Whenever I see someone recommend a revolver because "you can toss it in a drawer and take it out 20 years later and it'll work just fine", I shudder.
My opinion is that if you are not serious about practicing with your home defense firearm, then do not depend on a firearm for home defense. IOW, don't just buy a gun and ammo, and toss it in the back of a closet and forget about it. Take it out to the range and use it. A lot.
When I was in the Air Force in the eighties a young military police officer was disciplined for flooding his M-16 barrel with lube. When questioned, he said he did it "so the bullet would travel faster."
{shaking head}
But then again, what do you expect from people whose only exposure to firearms comes from Hollyweird?
This is the land that routinely shows snubnosed revolvers making 100 yard shots; small arms fire sending armored vehicles flying through the air; people using sheetrock as effective cover; and firearms fired inches from one's face with no safety gear, just to name a few H-wood gun myths...