BigHat

Agree. "Taken advantage of" was a poor choice of words. My point simply is a failure to meet the expectations of the customer. Not only initially (4 to 6 weeks), but repeated excuses over the last month. I could run through the list but they're in this thread. I did write Kip last night before posting. Haven't heard back. I haven't heard anything that I haven't heard 3 weeks ago -- almost ready. If I hear from him, I'll share the status with you all. I don't know what machine shops you happen to be dealing with, but you may have heard -- THERE'S A HUGE RECESSION and nearly 10% unemployment !! I work in manufacturing; if anything, our lead times for parts has dropped to less than half, not expanded. You have any idea how many people have been laid off in this area? The concept of being unable to find "good help" in this environment is not believable. Anyway, the customers didn't set the conditions of delivery for these tubes did we?

I just reached the point where I feel that I'm being taken advantage of and refuse to accept that, even if it means forgoing the best mag tube. It eventually becomes the "principle of the matter."

I know you aren't apologizing for him and I confess to liking the guy too, but we have a business relationship here. All I ask is that he deliver 4 to 6 weeks late on what he PROMISED in his ad or refund my money. I'm no longer accepting p*ss poor performance and "dog ate my homework" excuses. For the last three weeks this problem was supposed to have been resolved. You other guys can deal with his excuses as you wish.

I'm plenty aware of the nature of his company, I read all the posts. When you run a business, big or small, you are responsible for the way it's run. Spare me the BS that he can't control the people he HAD working for him. Sure, we all make mistakes I grant you that, just don't tell me the customers bear the burden. He hires someone great with high productivity-- we all get refunds? So he promised 4-6 weeks and the end of this week will be 10 weeks in my case. So I'm expected to NOT EXPECT efforts on his part to make it right for me? He fails to deliver on his promise, but we shouldn't expect him to get a dime less by expediting shipping or whatever? Oh, and while failing to deliver product to customers that have paid him, he opts to raise his price on the tube!! Amazing.

I'm not interested in profiting from this. Someone will get my spot for free because I'm sick of the BS. If it can't be here by Friday I want my money back and will 1) reassemble it as is or 2) buy another tube from someone else. I think this is the best tube, but I EXPECT ACCOUNTABILITY like it's expected of me every f-ing day in what I do to make a living. As they say in the Corps, excuses are like... Two weeks late is plenty of slack, what will be a month at best is UNSAT.

Thanks for the update. Like you,quality is important to me but this has bordered on the ridiculous regarding the delay. I can't fix the employee problem nor do feel an obligation to shoulder the burden for it. If mine isn't here by Friday, I'm CNX my order. At this point, over night shipping for what we expected to have weeks ago wouldn't be a surprise. I've paid for mine over a month ago (2 June) and ordered it over nine weeks ago (26 Apr) after being promised a 4-6 week waiting period in his ad.

I'm hopeful that mine will arrive next week too. Waiting about 9 weeks at this point. It's surely the best product around, but if you can't get it...?

A brass brush is a good idea. Thanks.

Waiting for mine reminds me of how I felt the day before Christmas when I was five. Or when I ordered that special gadget as a kid and waited daily for the mailman to reveal that the "allow four to six weeks for delivery" period had finally passed. Since this thread is also about installing them let me ask you pros a question. I removed my stock tube a few weeks back thinking this new was going to arrive any day. The old LocTite was pretty much all on the tube's threads. A couple of days ago I bought some acetone to clean up the old tube and prep. the receiver. I had hope that the acetone would just dissolve it but that's not the case for me. I am using 100% acetone. Do I need to soak it of something? Q-tips sure aren't making a dent.

Thanks for the info. I have a T-1 on a LaRue mount that I moved to an FN PS90 while I waited to find out about Kip's rail. LaRue says "no problems" on an M4 with a stock rail, but I've seen the pics that put that in doubt. Eventually I was going to get another optic so I appreciate your insight on the M4 sight compared to the T-1, especially for carbines and shotguns. I have a Leupold Mark 4 CQ on an AR-15, a EoTech 516 on an M1A (EBR stock), the T-1 on an FN PS90 and a naked M4. I want to buy the right optic and swapping what I have to different weapons is an option. The EoTech on a 7.62 rifle might be the biggest mismatch right now. So far my only gripe on the T-1 is that the "dot" seems to bloom even at intermediate settings so it may not be right for a rifle. It's like a 4 MOA dot with a bloom that makes it an 8 MOA blob.

Good update Kip. I was just eager to get it installed and was basing expectations on the last report.

My data point is an order on 22 April and paid on 2 June in expectation of a tube w/in a couple of weeks.

Anyone have an update of the status on how these are coming along?

I think a sight, tritium ghosts or an open field optic, makes sense, but I'm leaning toward keeping my M4 on the "clean" side. Concur with the point made earlier that lasers are nice when you can't align sights on a pistol, but a shotgun, much more often than not it is shouldered and due to it's length, aims pretty naturally w/o assistance.

Well no doubt it's very high velocity but with frangible ammo I don't think you're going through multiple walls or anything like that. The ammo is made for CQB. Some of us own all three (plus) of your HD choices and it's just a matter of what do you opt to keep close. For others it's which one are you going to buy with limited funds. You get pretty good overall diversity with an AR. If I have to bug out with only one rifle, that's what I plan on grabbing. What sits in my night stand is a SIG 229 in 357 SIG with Crimson Trace grips with a flashlight close by. Not a fan of lights on pistols and keep long arms close but not out in view.

Yes, it was. Don't have my mag. tube yet, but felt like taking the old one off just now. Thanks to Mickey for noting the smoking LocTite. I had to go to a higher temp setting too and couldn't get it to budge until it did start to smoke like yours. I was able to twist it off with an oven mitt despite the big gob of LocTite that was on there (covered all the way around). Mine came out of the socket cleanly too. Just a tad of residue on the top thread. Thanks to all for the tips. Now just waiting for the new one from Kip. Late April order so hopefully any day. Now if you wanna see a really 'fun" project try putting a SOCOM 16 in an EBR. I missed any contact with the M-14 in the Corps, so I'm learning about this rifle as I go along in manuals etc. Another trip to Home Depot for a Dremel tool and a cutting disc. Time to just cut off that operating rod guide I won't be reusing. Next project, the new M4 rail.

I bought a T-1 on a low LaRue mount for the M4 but opted to wait for Kip's rail before installing it and moved to an FN PS90 where it will probably will stay. I have a EoTech 516 on the M4 now and like it. I personally don't see where an EoTech sight creates tunnel vision anymore or less than a T-1 would, but I think the T-1 will work well on the M4.

Good scoop. Thanks. I have the same heat gun as you, so maybe the is really much ado about nothing. Hope to get my new tube NLT early next week and will share my experience regarding the install too.

I just wanna one ASAP. Use your best judgement.

Good price. Bought mine a month ago for $1600 plus $185 for the mag tube means a nice price for the collapsible stock.

Hey, I'll await my parts and when finished I'll go on with my life. You "experts" on the M4 can reign over those that don't know as much and feed your egos.

Well a 6'3" 200 lb former Marine. But admittedly, who knows - maybe he's Bruce Lee's cousin. That aside, he's an *******. Why not share his experience, rather than insult a new guy with less experience? I wouldn't have responded like that to him if I had done it before and knew it wasn't that hard to remove once heated. Isn't the point here to share knowledge rather than be a punk?

Well, I bought it for chrome plumbing uses I needed to do right away, but figured it might avoid scratches on the factory tube if it required more than a hand twist. Like I said, I have no idea of the effort required. So for those that have done it, why not just say it isn't on that tight, and if heated, you can twist it off with your hand? If he can rib people, we'll see how well he can take what he dishes.

Well, I have never done it so have no idea of the effort required. Thanks for sharing one of your frequent condescending remarks. Duggan, based on a total assessment of all your posts you strike me as an old, fat ***** with a big mouth. I'd put my hand strength as well the rest of my body against you in a second.

Same boat. Bought a strap wrench, heat gun and LOCKTITE yesterday. Actually, went to buy a drain trap but while I was there I figured I'd get what I needed to do the job right. I have Ti rail on order, dying to order the new rail when available and the charging handle too. Glad to support a fellow Marine, especially one that does such nice work in support of our M4s !!