Timbonez

+1 to What Beaver and Jarhead said. Colt, KAC, BCM, LMT, Noveske, Daniel Defense, and a few others are all top of the line. Build quality and small parts are all superior to a RRA, DPMS, and Bushmaster (the three most popular civilian AR makers). With that being said, I would say hold on to your RRA and shoot it. Do you need an optic right now? Why not spend more time learning the iron sights first and then move to an optic? Also, do you really need magnification? What distances are you going to be shooting at and what type of shooting is it going to be? If you're looking for benchresting and accuracy, then you will want magnification. If you're looking for something to put well aimed/placed hits on paper you will be better off if a 1x optic. Take a look at the Aimpoint Micro H-1. It's just like the T-1, but it's cheaper because it forgoes some of the extra stuff you probably won't use... like night vision device settings. It's an effective and light 1x optic. Use the left over money for ammo and practice/training. https://www.aimpoint.com/products/all-products/product-singleview/product/Micro%20H-1/

Well put and point taken. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

A switched on person using the uncommonly found common sense, familiar with their firearm of choice, with proper training, and that practices often should prevent a negligent discharge. Thinking that your gear will save you from making a boo boo is misguided. Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

I enjoyed Prometheus very much. If you're familiar with Alien then the end of Prometheus wasn't the only tie-in. The Weyland Corp. in Prometheus ends up becoming Weyland-Yutani in the Alien movies, the "derelict" spaceship from Alien and Aliens is the same type of spaceship from Prometheus (not the one the humans fly), and one of the humanoid aliens in Prometheus is also found dead in Alien when they investigate the "derelict" spaceship. The events of Prometheus take place roughly 30 years before Alien. Prometheus was originally supposed to be a prequel to Alien but Ridley Scott decided he wanted a different story that occurred in the same universe. I think the movie does an excellent job of creating its own story while giving subtle nods to Alien.

Interested to hear your thoughts on the Glock 19. Gen 3 or Gen 4? I used to have one several years ago but sold it. I still have the Glock 17 I mentioned a while back in addition to a Glock 26.

I think he's joking... it is the WTF thread.

Beaver, I've heard the M&P9s have had problems with poor accuracy and early unlocking.

That makes sense

I like the 1911, and I carry one everyday. I own 7 of them, but it's obsolete by today's standards. I never questioned its reliability, but I did say it requires more preventative maintenance as well as an individual both skilled and dedicated enough to take care of their pistol. There are few people capable enough or willing enough to do this. A first time or occasional shooter is better served by a modern pistol. Thanks for the YouTube video. Very credible. Over the past 100+ years there have been improvements in every human endeavor. Do you think maybe, just maybe, this also holds true to modern pistol design? ETA: So you really think because the 1911 "served" in all these wars it saw regular use outside of shooting qualifications and the random "oh shit" encounter with a few bad guys? I guess the same thing can be said for the M9, right? How difficult is it to comprehend that a handgun in military service is a last resort weapon, which is typically rarely used in combat?

Very nice, M2. I like the plastic furniture. The one AK type rifle that I have, an Arsenal SGL-31, has the plastic plum furniture. How difficult is it to add that lower tang? This is typically only done to milled receivers, no?

Function checks will not highlight cracks in parts, which may not become a problem until the most opportune time. Proper visual inspection is important. You're suggesting that one should only "inspect" through feel. Even your pistol of choice is easy and quick to completely disassemble. Have you ever done it? Where did I write that I detail strip my firearms every time I clean them? I acknowledge that it isn't necessary every time you clean, but it should be part of you regular preventative maintenance schedule after several thousand rounds have been put through a pistol... and weapons do require it whether you choose to believe it or not. I'm guessing you didn't read any of those articles I linked. Ignorance truly is bliss, isn't it? Really? Provide me with evidence that 1911s were used hard and didn't just sit in a leather holster while GIs used more effective weapons like, oh I don't know, M1s, BARs, M14s, M16s, M2s, M240s, etc. Because it was an issued SECONDARY weapon doesn't mean shit. You're romanticizing the 1911 by making it sound like it had 10s of thousands of rounds put through them fighting off Nazis and Communists. Shoot a .45 because if you are using anything less you might as well be throwing wet paper towels. Do you understand anything about terminal ballistics? BL: I'm not trying to convince you to shoot something else. A 1911 for carry isn't for everyone. I just want to make sure the new/uneducated buyer of a new carry gun doesn't heed your poor advice.

Incorrect. Knowing how to completely disassemble your pistol of choice not only gives you a greater understanding of how it operates, but it allows you to do work to improve or fix said pistol when parts break. It also means you don't have to send your gun in to the manufacturer for an unknown amount of time when you are capable of doing it yourself. Modern firearms have parts that can be replaced and dropped in by the end user. The 1911, while very easy to detail strip, requires fitting/tuning of many of its internal parts to function correctly and safely. The average shooter who espouses the superiority of the 1911, like you, lacks the knowledge to do such things. The 1911 has become a victim of it's own popularity. There are more manufacturers producing 1911s than you or I have fingers and toes. While this may seem like a positive, it has saturated the market with substandard 1911 type pistols and parts that don't drop in or fit well. Because everyone makes a 1911 to their own specs parts can't simply drop in. Also incorrect. A field strip to clean is basic and essential maintenance, but it will only take you so far. Like any mechanical device, parts begin to wear. How are you going to inspect the sear and hammer hook engagement on your pistol to ensure it's in working order without complete disassembly? I guess you're one of those guys who prefers bloodletting over penicillin as a medical treatment. And those Ford Model Ts... they're quite bitchin'. Glock is quite established in American law enforcement. They're used worldwide and they've been around for longer than a week. M&Ps also enjoy worldwide use as a dependable duty/service weapon. Berettas, XDs, SIGs, and the countless other pistols "produced last week" are improvements over old slab sides. I'm guessing you have a Kimber and you put a grueling 100 rounds per year through it with zero malfunctions. You will likely never experience a problem with it because you don't shoot it enough. Like I said before, I think the 1911 is a fantastic pistol. It's as American as baseball and apple pie. It has no equal when it comes to trigger pull. It is a very ergonomic and easy to shoot pistol for most people. When built correctly and properly maintained the 1911 is a reliable and durable pistol. If you are up to the task, which most are not, it can still be an effective defensive pistol. With that said, it is an early 20th Century design. Its time as a premier service pistol has come and gone, because there are too many modern pistols that bring more to the table at a more competitive price than a 1911. Educate yourself by reading the articles at this link: https://www.10-8performance.com/pages/Articles.html Additionally, here is some more info with words from Larry Vickers: https://militarytimes.com/blogs/gearscout/2011/06/08/read-this-before-you-buy-your-first-1911/ Oh, and don't forget the torture tests on the M&P, P30, HK45, and Glock 17 performed by Todd Green... I'd like to see a 1911 go through this: https://pistol-training.com/archives/category/range-reports/mp-monday https://pistol-training.com/archives/category/range-reports/p30-thursday https://pistol-training.com/archives/category/range-reports/hk45 https://pistol-training.com/archives/category/range-reports/gen4-friday

Unless you are intimately familiar with the inner workings and are able to do your own armorer level maintenance (i.e. fitting parts like extractors) on a 1911, it is not an ideal choice. You have to be very dedicated to the platform. While I think it is an awesome pistol, most people are better served by an easier to maintain firearm like a Glock or M&P.

You're not going to save that much weight if you cut the FSP. I would keep it, since it will give you more versatility if you ever want to put irons on it. I'm assuming you are going to keep standard M4 or MOE hand guards on it?

Why do you want to cut off the FSP? Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

He said he wanted a pinned barrel, which will bring it to the minimum 16" (depending on what muzzle device he uses) negating the requirement for a SBR lower.

That looks cool, M2. Are you going to refinish or clean up the wood?

Flatley, if you don't already own an AR-15, I suggest that you purchase from a reputable manufacturer. BigFreddie listed several and there are also a few more. To start, look at the Colt 6920 carbine. They are the standard by which all other AR-15s are judged, and they are competitively priced. Up until the last couple of months you were able to find them for under $1000. Lately, however, prices have started to increase on firearms.

One of the two links I provided is the article on Filthy 14. There is this continuous misperception about the AR-15 and the "fact" that it needs to be spotless to function correctly. If you're spending more than 15-20 minutes cleaning your standard DI AR... you're doing it wrong. If you run a suppressor a lot on a SBR there might be some advantage to a piston AR, but why not get a firearm that was designed around the piston design to begin with? That being said, a piston AR is still going to get filthy in the BCG and chamber with a suppressor. If you want to buy a piston AR, then go for it. You are gaining nothing but a lighter wallet. Often overlooked fact: DI AR-15s use a piston system Taken from another site: https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=99050

Quoted for truth... and skip the piston ARs. The AR-15 platform wasn't designed to handle them, and it has no appreciable benefit over a DI AR. DI guns are more than capable performers even when they're dirty but lubricated... https://www.slip2000.com/art-swat2.html and https://www.defensereview.com/the-big-m4-myth-fouling-caused-by-the-direct-impingement-gas-system-makes-the-m4-unreliable/.

It's still a niche cartridge and ammo isn't getting any cheaper. M2 already has a well established Soviet Bloc arsenal to feed. Having too many calibers isn't practical for most people.

6.8 SPC is expensive. If you are serious about getting an AR I would suggest getting a Colt LE6920/SP6920. It's been said on this thread before that that is the AR the model by which all others are judged. It's 5.56, which ammo is plentiful. Even the steel cased Russian ammo should work ok with it. And if you end up not liking the AR, Colt and the 6920 in general retain their value very well (mush better than most).

His retirement pay should be used fund his room & board in prison.

That would have been my second guess based on the full underlug. It's kind of difficult to tell frame size in the pic.

Very nice, Brick. Is that a S&W 586 I see?