ReeferMac

I'm interested in completing an AR platform rifle. I have purchased a complete lower from Anderson Manufacturing w/ Hogue grip. I'll admit I'm overwhelmed by all the options available... but rather than just 'take someone's word for it' and buy "X', I'd rather have at least a rudimentary understanding as to WHY I might want X over Z... I would _like_ to stick w/ Anderson gear, but don't NEED to. I'm particularly interested in their no-lube system, it appears to be quite impressive if it actually works as advertised. I would like to stick w/ a common caliber. The lower is multi-cal, but I'm leaning towards 5.56. I'm pretty sure I don't want 300 Blackout. I don't need a sub-sonic round, don't plan on supressing the gun, if anything, I want a longer-range projectile that pack's some punch... but I think a .308 would be too much. Stainless 24" Stainless barrel w/ 1:8 twist or 10.5" 1:7 twist? I understand generally speaking the longer barrels generate more pressure, ergo better for longer-range? Twist rate is determined by projectile weight, correct? Heavier bullet, less twist, lighter bullet, more twist? What features should I look for in a gas block/tube? What separates the 'charging handles' from one another (does it really matter?) Are all bolt control groups the same? - K

I use the Titegroup for 124 gr. round-nose from Berry's bullets, and have loaded from 3.7 up to 4.5 grains. My usual load is about 4.1-4.3, much more than that and you really feel the crack in your wrist, 3.7's a cream-puff though. S&W M&P compact cycles fine on that whole range. Haven't used a chrono, so dunno what it's coming out at. Seems to punch holes in paper just fine however. - K

I have the Ruger American 22. Great little rifle, very happy with it. Would consider another Ruger American based on the experience. - K

I know it's a running debate, but I think this settles it? http://www.wnd.com/2016/07/1-in-a-billion-police-shooting-cops-bullet-jams-suspects-gun/ - K

Welcome to the great state of Tennessee (from a fellow transplant from upstate ny - lived outside Rochester the last 20 years)! - Kevin

I'd recommend it. While I haven't done the Oak Park tour, I've been to a few of his houses, and they are simply inspiring. - K

I recently acquired 17 acre's of woods, have a Husqvarna 440..... Top-end Stihl saws are nice, I used them while working in the tree-biz, but you WILL pay more for them. They've got a little more power than the Husq, but cost nearly 50% more. Unless you're using one every day, I doubt you'll see the difference. - K

http://heyjackass.com/ Navy pier is fantastic! Stay near the lake, and avoid the south-side. - K

I know one of the TGO advertisers is an Atty that works out of the Nashville area, but is able to work state-wide, and told me he could do everything over the phone/Fed-Ex/ (I think a lot of the meat-n-potato's is boilerplate legalese). LMK how it goes for you. Last I looked into it the costs were prohibitive for my purposes. - K

Is she great or what? Talking w/ the missus today, she suggested I look into getting a silencer so we can use our .22lr and not spook the animals/critters. I also recently acquired an AR lower receiver, so want to get 1 can to work w/ the .223 and .22 caliber rifles. Though I'd love one, I doubt we'll ever have the funds to acquire an automatic gun, so should I bother w/ a trust, or just file to acquire the silencer as an individual? What forms do I need to file, approx. cost? THANKS! - K

Appreciate the offer! (C'mon, you had to know you were the "... experienced friends to help me learn." mentioned initially?!) - K

I'd much rather be responsible for putting a few hours onto the shift of some good 'ol boy at a machine-shop up in KY. Also hoping I'll be able to find parts/supplies if a ban on imports or anything similar takes hold. - K

AND made a little north of here in KY! Wanted to make sure I was buying American for several reasons, I'm sure everyone here understands. Now do I go for the rest from Anderson and get their no-lube features? Anyone have any experience with that system? - K

Saw one at the LGS... understand the attraction whole heartedly! If only money grew on tree's.... LOL! - K

Thanks for the great info guys. Budgetary concerns weighed in the decision, but I stopped at the LGS this morning and picked up an Anderson Mfg. complete lower and a pair of Magpul 30 rd. mag's (for $250 after tax and Background). I'll be shopping for uppers/parts as the budget allows, but I'm glad to have gotten these two parts out of the way given everything going on. Now I can spend a little more on the rest of the bits and pieces and hopefully end up w/ an item I'm happy with. They DID have the M&P Sport model complete for $659, which was very temping (can't build it that quality for that price), but the wife would castrate me if I dropped 700-clams right now, LOL! Thanks again! - K

Bud's will be hosting Hickok45 Saturday for those interested (great excuse for a trip to the LGS!) http://www.knoxnews.com/entertainment/hickok45-to-appear-in-sevierville-on-saturday-3726b5ac-42aa-60c3-e053-0100007ffe86-386069741.html YouTube star and gun advocate Greg Kinman, who uses the name Hickok45, will appear at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 9, at Buds Gun Shop & Range, 2270 Two Rivers Road, Sevierville. A retired English teacher from Franklin Road Academy in Nashville, Kinman has more than 2 million subscribers to his popular YouTube channel which features how-to videos, safety videos, firearm reviews and humorous sketches. His videos have more than 490 million views. Kinman will appear with his son, John Kinman, who occasionally appears in the videos. The event will include a discussion period and question and answer session before Kinman meets with fans. For more information, visit www.BudsGunShopTN.com.

Thanks for the input folks (wasn't aware the 'kit' didn't include the lower, WTF?!) Hard to say what I didn't like about the AR's... I went to open-range day at Windrock shooting range out here, and one of the LGS's brought a collection of their AR's, everything from 500-dollar cheap one's, to $3500 'zombie killers' w/ silencers... to be sure, the fancy one's w/ can's were the best, and I've shot/handled a bunch at ORSA, too. Slap a scope on it and it sends lead downrange very well, I was just never really impressed. I've handled/shot a few other black-rifles that did impress me, but I don't have the budget for that, and this acquisition is as much about timing as anything. Given the current news feed, I'd expect the idea of a "ban" will be bantered about in the press by this weekend.... Would I be better served by buying a quality lower receiver (or two!), and working on building a completed rifle down-the-road (assuming you can get uppers/parts even if a ban is implemented)? - K

I'm kicking myself for not getting the $400 kit they had a couple weeks ago... actually hoping for a deal this weekend: http://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-16-midlength-5-56-nato-1-7-stainless-steel-moe-freedom-rifle-kit.html I believe this ships w/ a completed (and tested) upper? How long should it take to assemble one from a kit? Couple hours? - K

While I haven't been overly impressed w/ the AR's I've shot, given the current prices and state of our world, I'm very seriously considering buying one soon. I'd like to get a build-kit, as it will help me to learn more about that rifle (important if I'm going to own it!), and I have access to experienced friends to help me learn. Given the price difference, too, it strikes me as a no-brainer.... that being said, is the 'cheap kit' on PSA's website any good? Would I be better served buying an already completed 'affordable' model (as I'm likely to want to upgrade parts/pieces as I progress through the various stages of addiction?). Can anyone recommend some other websites/company's to order from besides Palmetto? Do the kits have to go through an FFL dealer, or do they ship direct? Thanks. - Kevin

I think it was just bad alignment when seating the bullet. If I'm more careful during that stage, it doesn't seem to happen. - K

I've got a bunch of small apple tree's I'm getting ready to plant (along w/ some other fruit tree's, and berry bushes too...), and they're in an area that's got a lot of deer. I've offered up the area for friends to hunt there to cut down on the population, but plan to fence them in for a few years as well, until they grow and get established. I've read deer have very poor depth perception, and placing a fence at an angle, will go a long ways to deter them from jumping over. I've got access to a ton of small straight tree's of whatever length I want to cut them to, so far I've been making them 12'. I was thinking of placing them at an angle outwards, and putting a few strings of electrical wire around the outside, getting a solar charger to electrify. Costs are an issue, need to be as cheap as possible, but I'm thinking between the angle and electrification, it should be enough to keep the deer from jumping inside and feasting? Any thoughts, advice, or suggestions are welcomed and appreciated! Thanks. - Kevin

Hell, I moved down here to GTFOOD! I'm w/ you guys, I'm sticking it out here. Just purchased 17 acre's at the end of a windy country road ... just hope I can get it improved and the house built before the schumer really hits the oscillator! - K

Sharks w/ fricking laser beams, that's why!

Ditto on the accuracy. Practice, practice, practice. I was going to recommend looking at the Ruger line-up, they have some nice, small, affordable, American-Made carry guns. My wife has the LC9s, it's a nice little gun, and carry's 7 of the Speer Gold Dots.... Will get the job done, even if you miss on most of them! - K

F'ing A! Right on....