LeoAtrox

Shotguns and rifles are very different things, I agree. I also wonder about the inherent accuracy/inaccuracy of a system that has a gas trap so close to the breach. That bolt is unlocking before the bullet is out of the barrel. A recipe for disaster if not handled properly.

Where's the daggone skeleton stock from the Rx4? WTF is with Benelli USA and its refusal to make collapisble stocks available in the US? They know we Americans demand adjustible LOP, don't they? And, yes, the AR-15 is considerably more reliable that it was back in the 16's and early 70's; particularly with piston systems becoming the standard moving forward. That said, because of its close tolerances, it can still jam quite easily when grime gets around the bolt head; and civilian rifle manufactures are making more and more AR's without forward assist and ejection port covers. I'm going to stop there before I get too off-topic and start ranting. Suffice it to say, the AR-15 is still my go-to firearm if I need a carbine for mid-range target engagement. (But I'm a Marine who keeps his firearms very clean.)

That's a very informative letter. Thanks for posting.

More than enough, I think. The "burden of proof" is on the prosecutor. It's prosecutor's responsibility to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the weapon has 10 or more imported parts listed in 922®. If they can't identify the origin of a part, they can't prove it is foreign. I'm keeping my receipts and a log of changes that I make to my firearms (with parts, dates, manufacturers, and countries of origin); but I'm not too concerned about 922® because it would be on the government to prove a violation. It's not the defendant's "burdon of proof" to show that something is US made; it just helps to have proof if there is a need to defend one's self from litigation.

I cut down quite a bit. Started with 1-1/2 coils from each end like Kip suggested, then started lopping 1/2 coils off of one end until I could fit 7 in there. Took a few more snips to get it down to where I could just fit 7. I think, in total, I might have clipped off 5 or 5-1/2 coils. (It was a good 3/4 inches worth of compressed spring.) I've been considering buying a new spring from Kip, just to have it. I'm not 100% comfortable with having cut so much spring to fit 7. I'd like to have a backup in case the spring weakens over time and won't feed the last round. Decompressed, it's still a good 7 inches or so longer than the tube; but having a $12 spare never hurts.

When your life depends on it, you won't care how much the cost of ammo is. If you find a good load for your weapon and your situation, buy it. To heck with the cost. Buy enough to pattern/zero, plus several boxes for the magazine and the "hope-I-never-shoot-it" shelf. I'm a slug man myself ... But if I find a good buck load I like--or something comparable--I'll snatch it up for versatility's sake. (And I still think birdshot can be useful in some situations ... Not mine ... But some other situtations.)

Oh ... And regarding reloads: Remember to practice hitting the cartridge drop lever and bolt release. If anything, your reloads could be slowed because you'll be more inclined to put your forward hand back on the FVG. Hopefully you'll top of the magazine without ever running dry; but it doesn't hurt to hit the bolt release every time you reload. Practice, practice.

VFG's help quite a bit with recoil control. They don't lessen recoil, of course, but they afford a better purchase on the muzzle end of a firearm, which can help to control muzzle rise and get the firearm back on target quicker. As far as ergonomics of reloading, VFG's should have no significant effect, in my opinion. If you're doing a tactical reload into the magazine, you're letting go of your forward grip anyway. Always reload the magazine with your forward ("weak") hand. It feels more natural to let go of the rear grip and reload with your "strong" hand while you control the firearm with your forward hand because the weapon balances better that way ... But, that's the wrong way to do it. Keep your rear hand on the grip and your finger near the trigger. Reload with your weak hand. Practice until its second nature. Same with malfunction clearance. Best way to go about is to reach around with your weak hand to rack so that you can get another shot off as quickly as possible. That's assuming you're of the opinion that the best way to clear a failure is to first attempt a single rack/bang (which is what I was trained to do). If simply attempting to rack a new round into the chamber doesn't work, then you're probably going to your backup weapon anyway ... Or diving for cover. (Am I talking too "tactical"? You were asking about the M4 Tactical, right?) I don't think FVG's do anything for accuracy of aimed fire. I suppose others might disagree ... Perhaps, if the FVG is long enough, you might use it as a monopod. But using the FVG as a grip, it's not going to help your accuracy whatsoever.

That's rather course Duggan. Sometimes birdshot is all you can safely use. Buckshot tends to go through walls; so if you live in an apartment, there's a good chance you could strike your neighbors if you use buck. In these cases, you have to weigh defensive capability versus the liklihood of collateral injury. There are home defense experts that would recommend large birdshot for these types of situations. Your avarage home invader is not determined enough to stand and fight through a birdshot wound (or even a guy shooting any type of shot at him). Birdshot wouldn't be my first choice, but if I was single and living in an apartment, I might just do #4 birdshot out of a Taurus Judge ... Well, maybe 3 birdshot loads, and 2 .45 Colt rounds out of a Judge.

I'm curious as to what the 13 parts he listed are. Would a "muzzle attachment" be one of them? In other words, is the choke classified as a "muzzle attachment," and would using a US-made choke lower the number?

Mine is the same way. (It came "NIB" that way ... Yeah, right.) I don't worry about it. It won't affect performance, and I'd keep the barrel clean anyway.

lol ... Maybe the liberals will buy this stuff up to protect us idiot gunlovers who are bound to eventually kill ourselves with these dangerous killing machinees.

Hey, if he doesn't need money right away and hasn't got any real desire to sell the weapons/parts, why not list them for an unreasonable price? Worst case is you get to hang on to them. Best case, you make money hand-over-fist. It's capitalism, baby! There's a sucker for every "deal." So, I don't take issue with his prices. What I do take issue is that he's listing that "+0" (as OhioM4 put it) extension as being in "Excellent" condition. It is clearly not.

The stock choke is fine. As Unobtanium said, use rifled foster-type slugs.

Received it today. My mailperson (who happens to be my next door neighbor) said it was tough to find because the other mailperson placed it on a high shelf in a manner that allowed it to roll to the back. I have to admit that my hands aren't a tough as they were when I was in the Corps. Getting that factory tube off was a pain. It was a 45 minute heat-twist-and-repeat affair. I'd get about half a rotation, and then I'd have to heat some more. I eventaully got it off though. Now I'm waiting for the receiver to cool, and I'll install the Carrier Comp tube. Can't say anything for fit yet, but the tube really is a thing of beauty. The finish used is superior (in appearance) to the factory finish. I can hardly wait to install the tube and run a few rounds through it. Thanks Devil Dog. Semper fidelis.

Legal gray area. That's their interpretation. ATF and the Justice Department (as well as any local authorities) may interpret the law differently. As far as I know, the various interpretations of 922® have not been vetted and decided in a court of law. It may be permissible to install US made parts if the overall imported parts count remains over the limit; but it might not be. So, if you're going to do it, you do so at your own risk.

Thanks Kip, but I've got the tracking number. I'll just wait to see if it shows up on Saturday. If it doesn't, then they'll have to have a reason why it couldn't be delivered, which will give you the ability to submit a claim. I'll let you know if it never arrives.

Y'all are making me angry. Not your fault. How could you know that I went to the Post Office yesterday to pick it up and they couldn't find it? I scheduled re-delivery for Saturday, so they have until then to find it. Otherwise, they're going to have to list is as lost, and then I gotta call Kip and have him take out a claim on it. (Thank goodness it's isnured.) I'd hate for it to come to that. I have already waited an awfully long time for this.

A visual comparison of the two shows that they are similar. They both would apparently rotate freely. The KZ is slightly smaller and tempered differently, but those differences are relatively minor. Given the options of KZ, GGG, and stock, I decided to wait with the stock handle until I could get my hands on a different quality replacement.

I LOVE that they're all wearing the FROG (Flame Resistant Organizational Gear) shirts rather than standard Marine CCU blouse. Much more comfortable, much safer. Thank God for Caleb Crye.

+1 And, might I add, those are a couple of find knives. As a Marine, I've got a preference for Ka-bar knives; but the SOG SeAL knives are beautifully designed fighting knives. I haven't had the pleasure of using a Randall, but it looks like a beast of a knife. You seem like you've got a big heart and a good head on you. Don't know if you've been in the services before, but I don't want to assume you have either. That said, I will impart some knowledge from my experiences: I don't know if your SIL is a CAC, PJ, or other AF commando, but in any case, keep in mind that he's more likely to use the knife as a tool to cut cord, chop branches, and dig as he is to fight with it. A sturdy high-carbon blade that is fairly thick and partially-serrated is usually preferable to stainless steel non-serrated blades. Multi-tools (Leatherman and Gerber are two brands that I'd trust) are also very helpful. While you're not going to fight with one, having one is going to save a guy's blade from some abuse (cutting wire, driving screws, etc.).

I'm eagerly anticipating my new tube. Too bad it won't arrive before my club's July 4 grand opening/open shoot. But I can deal with the standard tube for now. So ... When do the wind chimes go on sale?

Geez, Stranger; the guy is busy. Leave him alone ... At least until I get my tube. You know what he should do? He should do it in fifty-fourths-of-a-pound and make you convert it as penance for your sins.

Hilarious. I especially like the "@stickysolutions.con" e-mail address.

Thanks for your feedback about the GG&G. I'm not running any modifications on my M4 yet, but I know I want a bolt release that is bigger and easier to locate under stress. Just one question: What do you mean by "CM"? Who is that?