Tim,

Don't take this the wrong way, but this seems to be a seasonal dilemma you find yourself in.

Given your concerns over theft, you'd probably be better off spending your money on a REAL safe, not just a lockable steel cabinet. Not only can you store your firearms more securely, but any other valuables you might have.

Otherwise, I think some of the questions you're asking do little more than distract you from your original purpose. A wise person once told me to "listen more, talk less". There are volumes of information out there on the internet regarding nearly every question you've asked - use the search keys more often, read what people are saying and process it before you start asking questions. If you're going to act on any of that information, then act - don't spin around with it to the the point you find yourself asking the same questions a year later.

You really need to find some direction and focus. You have over 6000 posts here. Have you figured out the holster issue yet, or how far away to stand from your target, now that you've moved on to buying more guns? Truly, I've lost track. You tend to bounce around here like a short dog in high weeds.

If you're truly stuck on a problem and need some advice before you can proceed toward a solution, by all means ask the question. Right now, it really looks more like you're just thinking out loud, looking for some discussion that's been posted before and which you've participated in.

Last summer, a friend put together a tactical bolt gun that turned out to be one heckuva prairie dog-killer. I'd never known him to be interested in anything beyond his 1911 before that. Asked who built it for him, he told us that he did it himself. He related that he'd read up on long-range and precision-rifle shooting in print and on the internet and monitored a number of internet (sniper) forums. I vaguely remember him asking me a couple questions about calibers and he was very interested when another friend and I were running two competing exterior ballistics programs against each other at the range one day, but otherwise - he just went out and did it - and he did it very well.

My advice to you is simply this. Look around you and figure out what projects or interests you have. Prioritize them. Come up with a plan for each. Stay focused on the most important until you're satisfied with the result and can move on to the next. Right now, it seems that you have so many irons in the fire that you never really resolve anything?