[LarryW]

Yes, sir, TR. All very good gouge. The .38 is for the 3" wheel gun out in my truck. The Winchester uses .357 only. Yes, have suffered the finicky attitude of .38's in the Winchester. They are just that much too short for smooth action. .357 are fine but lousy if cycling is slow. One has to be deliberate and intentional. The 16ga is admittedly a hi-bred, but I picked it up cheap a few years back. Great condition and something to fill in for a house gun anyway. The thing thrives on rifled slugs (about the same ballistic performance as a .45-70 Govt). Cost for 16ga slugs is about $1/round (at least right now). Prefer ball ammo vice frangible stuff, too. Better penetratio0n. When using buckshot I prefer #1 vice 00. There's not enough difference between .33 cal (00) and .30 cal (#1) for me to sneeze at, and with singles I get more pellets/round. The '03 will put meat on the table if I stay in North America, and I have laid up a good amount of .30-06 ammo. Love it, and with the bayonet it adds a certain visual impression.

Yes, sir, I'm too well seasoned to abandon the garrison life and go a roving thru zombie-land. I'll stay put. I have a good backup of red beans and rice (6mos worth, plus) and enough room for a patch of potatoes and greens when the beans run low. There's a small year round spring fed stream that adjoins the back of the property. Enough hard wood around for kindling and a fire.

For recreation I'm a student of the French Resistance. At my age I find it reasonable to conclude being less visible is best. Just being the old fool who keeps to himself is a better profile for me. Type casting, actually. The dog agrees.

In the end there's only so much one can do if the bubble really goes up. Mine won't be for not fighting back, however.