Tuning a mandolin like a guitar

I'm a long-time guitarist who'd like to play a few songs on mandolin.
I have an inexpensive, but playable A-style mandolin with standard
gauge strings.

What I'd like to do is tune it like the top 4 strings of a guitar (D,
G, B, E - low to high). I'm sorry if this offends anyone. But I've got
over 20 years of guitar experience and I'm set in my ways. I'm having
a really hard time with standard tuning.

I've tried using guitar tuning already, but the strings are either way
too lose or too tight. What gauge strings do I need? I don't want to
damage the neck or break strings.

Please respond by email (drzontar@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
). Any help will be greatly
appreciated. Thanks.

- Rich