MacGyver

Piston based operating systems were nothing new when Eugene Stoner designed the platform.  He could have gone that route, and instead chose direct impingement.  As has been mentioned in this thread, DI systems are significantly lighter with several fewer moving parts.  As an engineer, I like fewer moving (potentially breaking) parts - especially when you're fielding them for battle.    DI systems are dirtier, but one good part about the military is being able to set a standard for maintenance - largely making the issue moot.  As TMF said above, there are a lot of soldiers out there today along with their NCOs who may not be as strict as they need to be about cleaning and maintenance and they experience the failures and stoppages that go along with that.  A piston operating system wouldn't solve that problem.  It would compound it.  If they can't maintain a DI system, they're not going to maintain a piston system either.   What does this have to do with you as an average shooter?  Not a thing.  Lube is king in the AR platform, and as long as you lube the rifle appropriately and occasionally clean it responsibly, it'll do everything you ask of it.    I'd encourage you to shoot both platforms.  See what you like.  For most of us, it's not a matter of "what do I need," it's a matter of "what do I want."  Figure out what qualities you're looking for, and that'll help drive your decision.

  "I expect you're going to be popular here..."

There are so many real problems out there.  Why do we need to make up new ones?

This one is going to be AR 15 only.  We'd love to get an AR 10 offering together, but let's see if we can pull this one off, first.

This one is bona fide and fully vetted by TGO staff.

People will spend more money if you only show them the way...

The price is low enough that we need to work through how we're going to post it.   To the earlier thread, when it comes time for this one to go, we'll ask people to commit firmly at that time.

So one of the benefits of our previous vendor falling through at the last minute, is that one of our very own members and sponsors offered to step in and fill the void. Jeff Cross, the owner of CMT Tactical has offered to do the lowers for us with a huge bonus of being manufactured right here in TN. We've still got a little work to do to get the buy together, but I thought I would post some of the design renderings that he's sent us. These will be 7075 billet lowers with a custom engraved TGO logo on the magazine well and a TGO specific run of serial numbers. I can say that for automation purposes, these will be a set run of serial numbers. The logo will be machined - not laser engraved - before they're anodized, so anyone who decides to Cerakote later won't have to worry about covering up the markings. One of the things that we're trying to get squared away is a matching upper option to go with the lower. Of course, Jeff makes a great upper receiver, and he mentioned putting together a package for those who are interested. I'll put up a poll in a bit to gauge interest, but in the meantime, enjoy:

Ryan is a great guy, and a great person do deal with.

Being Georgia born and bred, I love both by themselves, but can't picture them together. I'll have to try it. On the subject of pimento cheese, I've always thought the best pimento cheese has just the right amount of cayenne pepper. Turns out I was wrong. I had some the other day that also had bacon and pecans in it. Spread on some good crusty bread with a lettuce and tomato - it was a little slice of heaven.

This thread needs to settle down.  That's all I'm going to say.   Other than if I had to punch out tomorrow with nothing but my MKIII and my RAT5, you wouldn't find me shedding too many tears about the firepower I don't have.  I'm confident in both.  A rifle would be nice - I'd likely grab any of a variety of AR variants - but that would be a luxury item that has some downsides to me.  I'll take light, fast, concealable and quiet, and recognize that I'm trading power and range.  But, that's my style and my training - your situation may dictate differently.   If it comes to TEOTWAWKI, and your plan is to go and live off the land surrounding suburbia with the rest of the unwashed masses, then all that ammo isn't going to do you much good anyway.  You need a better plan.

I've never had great luck with incandescent bulbs on any weapon, much less a shotgun.    There were several years in which they provided a lot better light, but those filaments are so fragile.  LEDs are a big improvement in terms of robustness.

The Streamlight TLR series are fine lights.  I've got a few.  I've got a TLR-3 sitting on a P99 currently because the rail is wonky on the original Walthers.  I've broken one.  I wouldn't take that as a negative point, though because it's a piece of plastic.  So is the Surefire.  If you run your gear, it's going to see some hard use, and I fully expect I might break an x300 one of these days.   You could go your entire shooting life with Streamlights and be perfectly well served and happy.  But, put a TLR series in one hand and an x300 in the other and you'll see the difference.   Besides.  Most of America spends the $100ish delta between an okay light and a great light on cheeseburgers every month. 

 That's a question only you can answer.  When I see multiple reviewers state that "This light is NOT intended for range use", I pretty much dismiss it immediately.  I know how I answer the value question.   But, if someone only has $24, and isn't going to be able to come up with the money for a better light, maybe a light is better than no light.   Another equally disqualifying factor for me is the fact that I can't get a holster that would fit the Nebo, even if I wanted to try one.  Again, it might be fine if you're leaving your weapon on the night stand, but I'm not.  My weapons are systems - weapon, grips, sights, lights, holsters, belt, me...

You could always send it to Glock and have them update the frame.    I expect you could also sell one of the Gen2s and buy a Gen3 or Gen4 for less than the $150 + shipping it would cost to have Glock update your weapon.

I think this thread is done.

Yes.  Talk about 3D printing at its highest potential.

Besides, I like the updated version of the classic better anyway:

Yeah, but those 6V batteries are so hard to find these days...

There are some great lights out there.  The Fenix PD32 Ultimate is an amazing light for the price point.  The Maratac AAA, likewise is one of the best lights I've ever put in my pocket (warning, if you follow the link, you're going to wind up spending $50.  Don't blame me).   But, I'd still argue that there's not a better made Weapon Mounted Light out there than either of the CREE powered Surefire x300 variants.  If there's a better light to be had on a pistol, I'd love to know about it.

Don't kid yourself. When something goes bump in the night, you're barely going to be able to think straight enough to grab your gun, much less the light that mostly sits beside the gun, but gets used for other stuff around the house, too. A light is just like a gun. If you don't have it when you need it, you're not going to get a second chance. That's why my goto Glock 19 and my Kimber Warrior both wear X300s full time. If you're considering a light, consider a weapon mounted light. If you're thinking about going for one, save your pennies and get an x300 or x300u. They're worth it. As far as real tactical lights go, there's surefire and "kind of like a surefire." It's them vs. everyone else. I'm a light junkie. I've got all kinds of lights including some great cheap handhelds. But, there's no way I'm sticking one of those on my weapon. My life and my family's life is worth that consideration.

The Outpost had several varieties of Eley .22LR when I was in there last week.  They had a sign above it stating no limit on Eley .22LR.   Of course, at the prices that stuff commands, I expect they don't have to worry about the scalpers as much.

Since you've got the Military, you aren't really missing anything in the Police Model except a blade that's .25" past legal. I don't think they're putting the false edge on the spine anymore. I guess you can probably still get one of the old all stainless versions - it's certainly a classic. But, we're I going to get one today it would be one of the G-10 variants. That said, the Police Model inspired Ulize they put out last year sure is pretty. And, you need at least one Rescue in the collection. It's what put them on the map.

They're great little knives.

Dual, self-cleaning gas operated pistons make it one of the softest recoiling 12 gauges out there.  It's my wife's go to long gun of choice, and she's not a big person.   It's a gun the understands the difference between the trigger being pulled and the action being manually operated.   It's ghost ring sights are a welcome addition to a shotgun - especially with night sights.   Oh yeah.  7 in the tube, one on the elevator and 1 in the pipe make for 9 rounds of firepower.