Dobervol

Thanks much; will do.

Well, guys, I just found the couple suggestions in this thread: http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/gunsmithing-troubleshooting/40215-refinishing-handgun-mid-tn.html Bit of an idiot for not doing a search until after I posted, but I'll admit I was a little surprised something similar had been asked as recently as May. Still, if anyone knows of anyone else, let me know. I'm a bit surprised, too, that a lot of guys who do this are doing it out of their own homes (nothing wrong with that), whereas at least in Mid-TN, most brick and mortar gunshops don't offer this service, even those with a good gunsmith on staff.

I know there are some good folks all the way over in East-TN who do it, but does anyone know of any Gunsmith who has experience doing spray gun coating in the Middle-TN area (preferably not on the southern border)? Everybody keeps telling me that I should just buy a couple cans of aerosol from Brownells and do it myself, but while I'm a bit mechanically inclined, I've never had very good luck w/spray painting or coating anything, even when following the instructions to the letter. Guess it's just not one of my talents. I'd have no problem giving it a go myself if I was just going to camo-up an AR, but I want a 1911 (a Taurus PT1911 about which I love everything except the stock garbage finish) done in two colors, olive drab and black, and I want it to look really good. Any suggestions? If not, I may just have to road trip it to East-TN. BTW, south-central KY is also in easy driving distance for me. Thanks, guys.

I could be worse. NEW Glock 36 for me, which w/n fire more than 3 rounds w/o mishap.

Welcome; you're not alone as to the area. I've worked in Lafayette for almost 18 years.

Well, 2 of them now for me. Already had the 0301 in Ranger Green and got the 0350CB (composite blade), with Elmax steel blade edge. It's a little smaller than the 301, and a little more practical for EDC. Also on the 'ol Hinderer 0551 pre-order list w/willis' dealer. BTW, willis, do you have the same moustache as your avatar?

Dang, VolGrad (I've got two degrees from UTK, too), you need to be sure to EDC that 350 to protect yourself as a Vol fan living in UGA town. Got treated worse there (cursed at, beer thrown at, and spat upon) than at any SEC venue as a visiting fan, incl. Florida and Bama. Never been to LSU, though.

Willis hooked me up. His dealer fixed me up with his last 301 (the bigger, olive drab version). Great knives; if anything, better than advertised; but my problem is, I can't just buy ONE of these knives now. I'll have another one heading my way soon. They really look and feel like a custom knife at a production price. Photos do not do these knives justice; you really have to hold one to appreciate them.

Sumner Co. can use another range, for sure, if you can work through the politics. I'm usually through there a couple times a week on work, and I'd sure like another, more modern and well-equipped option than the pawn shop range. Nice folks, but range looks like it was built in 1955.

Drove by there yesterday on 40, and noticed a banner stating that their new indoor range was now open. We d/n have a listing for it here in the range section yet. Anyone been by to shoot? # of lanes? Type of setup?

B/c I tend to be a bit tech. illiterate, and "posting a pic" tends to be a bit of a process for me, the pics will need to await a time when the, ahem, better half is not present in the domilcile. She's given me enough grief about the purchase already. I'm lucky she likes guns, but not that she thinks they all should cost $500 or less.

Yeah, I'm pretty excited about the price, and as soon as I can get to fire it somewhere other than offhand in a friend's cow pasture, a detailed range report will be coming.

Well, I made a decision on the choice discussed here: http://www.tngunowners.com/forums/long-guns/32555-folding-stock-carbine-choice-223-a.html Well, I went ahead and made a purchase: a Sig 556 Patrol on “clearance†at Academy for under $1,400. Couldn’t find anyone else who could (or would) even come close. A couple observations: First, there is a very noticeable weight difference between the “SWAT†models with the railed alum. handguards, and the models with the polymer guards, which surprised me. As in the above thread, I wanted to have ability for this gun to fold and fit in the small trunk of a convertible. B/c of its intended purpose, I also wanted it to be as lightweight as possible. The Patrol model has the shorter, polymer handguard, and comes with the rotary diopter rear sight and front ghost ring sight. I decided I’d be happy with that configuration, as I think handgrips look cool, but prefer the feel of a plain ol’ handguard, and I’m only going to be putting an offset flashlight and Aimpoint Micro on it (lightweight again), so no need for additional rail space. Second, I absolutely loooove the Swiss-style folding stock, but if you get a 556, you need to be picky about optics choices, or more specifically, optic mount heights. The comb height on the Swiss stock is over an inch lower than the rear of the receiver, so what works on a basic AR won’t work on the 556, and you have to also take into account the height of the Sig iron sights to be sure you have the type of co-witness you want.

Looks nice, but only if there's a significant price difference versus the SCAR, considering the packages. A 5.56 for $1,750-1,800 would be hard to pass up. Also, if you get both caliber packages and both stocks for the SCAR price, it might be worth it, as you could argue to yourself you are basically getting two rifles, b/c to also get the 7.62 upper for the SCAR will push you over $4K for the package. If only the 5.56 costs about what the SCAR does, though, and you're committed to spending $2,500 on a battle rifle, why not go ahead and get what all the "historians" and FN-istas will constantly remind you is "the real SOCOM rifle"? As for me, I just can't pull the trigger on a SCAR purchase, pardon the pun, because while I might rather have it than any other (non-sniper rifle or custom 1911) gun out there, I can always think of two (or even three) guns I'd rather have for the same money as the one SCAR. BTW, was the Magpul and/or Rem. ACR included in any of the SOCOM testing which led to selection of the SCAR? If so, what were the pluses and minuses, one versus the other?

Mark, I've never bought a gun from Academy (although I bought an unfired gun from a guy who originally bought it there a couple years ago); what kind of price did they have on the 556s? How do their prices run in general, in compared to gun shop prices in mid-TN? I love some of the gun shop guys, and they're great people, but I'd feel like a total goob if I found a gun for $100-200 less at a Dick's or Academy than what I just paid elsewhere.

More to investigate--nope, I've always thought the buffer tube sticking out the back of the, ahem, "pistol," looked goofy as all get out, but if it truly shoots well and is a legit. option for my intended application, I'd sure consider it. That, plus BrasilNuts does have a point about not just keeping a $1,500 gun in the trunk of the car and leaving it there. Ah, decisions, decisions. But better to ask questions now than not and get home w/a gun I hate. Thanks.

I've read nothing but good reviews for the gun, esp. considering the great price, but I guess I have a had a hard time believing it was stable unfolded when shouldered. So, I'll ask, since you're not a gunwriter for a mag whose, shall we say, advertising budget might take a hit if you gave a gun a thumbs down--how stable a platform is it; how does accuracy compare to a 16" barreled, traditional, gas impingement AR?

Yeah, I know it isn't the fault of the firearm, but the "gangsta" deal is one of the biggest reasons I'm a little reluctant to go the folding AK route. All the experts say "it's an excellent gun; don't blame the gun," but the image is hard for me to shake mentally. On the pistol caliber carbine route, any recommendations? Experience with the Beretta Storm?

As for the DPMS, I thought about it but (probably wrongly) dismissed it under the guise that "they [gunwriters] say" that the AR-10 is the only reliable AR-type .308 variant, and Armalite is a bit proud of them price wise, but I've never owned an DPMS or .308 AR variant, and for all I know, the DPMS could be a reliable, near tack driver. Your experience? And I'm taking my own thread off topic, but I had only briefly considered a .223 pistol, thinking they were much too expensive for what you got in return, but when I ruled them out, I admit I completely forgot Kel-Tec made one. Looks much nicer than their SU-16 rifle, too, IMO, and cheaper to boot. If you just took a photo of your own, how do you like it (wt., controlability, reliability)?

Me likey the AK converted Saigas very much, but the basic ones do look similar to the FNAR and are much cheaper than either the converted Saiga or the FNAR. Ya'll are giving me a bunch to think about. And I, too, have such a list. The "next" gun I'm gonna buy on my list often gets bypassed on that list when I go in the store and a gun much lower on my list is a much better deal. I always love a good deal, and after all, what gun, except a tiny but large cal. handgun, or an African side-by-side elephant gun, isn't fun to shoot as long as it's safely constructed and goes bang when you pull the trigger?

Curious; do any of the folders fire w/stock folded? Not a necessity, just a nicety.

Hmm. Gotta admit, that one never crossed my mind, even though I read a review of a standard-stocked M1 .30 just this morning. Mind disclosing just how much your new addition set you back, approx.?

Yes, I've considered the taken-down AR route, but even though it may well be paranoid, I just like the feeling of having an immediately available, pop in the mag and defend yourself rifle option available in the vehicle, esp. in today's political and economic climate. If I've heard it once, I've heard it 1,000 times: the reason for having a pistol is to be able to fight your way to your rifle. And I may be wrong, but I thought the Sigs could fire folded if you had to, in a pinch? Obviously, I can carry anything in my full-size pickup, so a regular AR is fine for that purpose.

Yeah, I know about the Para, the TTR ("Tactical Target Rifle"), but it's mucho expensive. I don't want to spend over $1,500 on this purchase, and it's going for nearly $2,000. And as for the SCAR, it would be the clear choice but for the $2,500 price tag. I can't get past the idea that I can buy a really nice scope, another rifle, or good, basic 1911 for the $1,000 diff. between it and the Sig, or over $1,500 between it and the AK folder. Anybody seen any Sig 556s or .223 AK variants at any Mid-TN shops? On the one hand, I'm thinking the Sig more and more, but I really do want to lay hands on an AK before deciding. Big $$ diff., even btwn those two.

On second thought, Elmer never had a wabbit gun this cool.