cknight8

If you're talking about changing your gun from 5.56 to .300, it's as simple and easy as a barrel swap. I'm sure there's hundreds of places that could do it here in TN, although I'm mobile on my phone right now and can't see your exact location in TN. Once the proper tools and knowledge is acquired, the AR system is one of the easiest to work on. If you're talking about having brass formed, my reloading knowledge is admittily very little when it comes to forming cases. Once you get past depriming, sizing, trimming to length, charging, and seating a bullet I'm pretty much clueless...

I really like it! I admit I was scared when I read the title...

I've always wanted a 9mm setup on a QuarterCircle 10 lower...sounds like you're building a nice one.

My marlin 1894 357 couldn't be bought for any price tag...I simply love that rifle. Fun fun fun to shoot...I put a Williams Foolproof peep sight on it. Did I mention it was fun to shoot? LOL I would love to have a .44 to match it but I'm afraid that train has pulled out of the station...

Very nice!

While not in 9mm, I have both their counterparts in .40 cal. I love my glocks but the M&P is growing on me more & more every day. I am in fact looking at a 9mm to add to the safe & I'm leaning more towards the M&P right now myself

I love the Troy Alpha Rails, but they are slim so I'm not sure if it will clear the gas block you mentioned as I have no experience with those. I really like the Troy models that have the built in flip up front sight when paired with the Troy flip up battle rear sight.

Because of the sizes of the two options, I'm guessing you're looking at it for a carry weapon, I would say G36 and don't look back.  There's not much more one can say about the G36, it's a Glock...it requires very little maintenance and just works day in and day out with no worries.  I'll probably catch flack from the 1911 guys but in my experience they can be more finicky and usually require more attention.  I will say, I'm a glock fan.  I have trained with them as carry weapons for so long, it'd be hard for me to remember to flip the thumb safety, get the same grip on the beavertail, all while drawing the weapon from a concealed holster under stress...  It's a personal thing, but especially considering ATI vs Glock, I think Glock wins that one every time...

While I prefer flip ups (it gives you optic options down the road), I find I like the Daniel Defense or Troy fixed rear sights pretty darn good. I've tried cheaper sights and found later on I would replace them with higher quality brands.

If I could only have one AR (Thank God that's not the case), it would be my AR pistol. I went with both .300 and 5.56 uppers. 5.56 has the Troy flip up sights and the .300 has the Vortex Strikefire. I went with SAA Dragon's Head Linear Comps on mine, much better than the standard A2 flash hiders. The .300 is even gonna get a shot in the deer woods this year in the brushy thickets...sans the Sig Brace. Not to sure how I feel about it just yet...I think I prefer the cheek weld method better than it.

I'm interested in the replies in this as well, been thinking about getting a 9mm barrel for my M&P40

I have used a Noveske Pig in the past, and it worked excellent. Currently I have a Troy Claymore on my rifle & I'm loving it. Any linear comp should do exactly what you're needing it to do...

I have checked 5.56 builds before, never ran into a problem.  I wouldn't sweat it to much honestly, especially if the bolt and barrel are coming from the same manufacture (which is what I always try to do anyways).  If it really worries you (and that's a good thing too), just get a No-Go gauge for around $30.  Check with the No-Go gauge, if it passes then chamber a round (under safe conditions, firearm pointed downrange at a safe area). If it closes fully and goes into battery then you know its good to go.     Here's a 300 No-Go: http://www.midwayusa.com/product/643691/ptg-headspace-no-go-gage-300-aac-blackout

I had one and loved it.  It was a dream to carry when you wanted that big bore experience.  I foolishly traded it off and kick myself in the butt every day for that one...  If I found one at that price it'd be bought!

My apologies, I stand corrected.  I wasn't aware of any new changes to the law...

26" is the shortest legal limit for overall length, but smoothbore must have a barrel length of 18" to be legal. Rifled barrel length is 16". If you go shorter on either the barrel lengths OR the overall lengths, it's a big no no if you don't have the SBS/SBR stamp & paperwork.

I use a handheld Smith's diamond stone & a Smith's handheld arkansas stone.  maintain the edge and it doesn't take long at all.  i never cared for the "systems" that hold a certain angle...i just usually "feel" my way for the angle of the particular blade.  guess i'm old fashioned though...

so since my last post in this thread I came into 2 really good deals on Candiru's with a custom kydex sheath on each one of them.  I'm now daily carrying the candiru around the neck and the izula has been pulling belt duty.  the Candiru is a darn nice little knife and has proven very useful.  the second Candiru i got i have now "married" that sheath to my Esee-3.  

And the aus-8 takes a good edge off a diamond stone & an Arkansas stone to polish it up. I've impressed a few of my buddies with the quality of the RATs

I just got my RAT 2 in the mail on Thursday. I can't begin to tell you how nice it is. It's a smaller version of the RAT 1, same high quality build & toughness. These RATs are quickly becoming my go to EDC knives

This is very good news to me! A slightly smaller RAT would be very useful for business attire when you wanna be a little more inconspicuous. I'm thinking very seriously about getting one of these low rider clips for it & just might pick up two now that I know that RAT2 is coming! Here is the link to the clip: http://usaknifemaker.com/ti-pocket-clip-formed-tumbled-040-low-rider-stealth.html

    I couldn't agree more!

As it was said, no PM2's to look at at SMKW.  I did pick up the Ontario RAT 1 & have been carrying it this week.  All I can say so far is this is alot of knife for $35!  Every good word I've read about these has turned out to be true in the few days I've had mine.   I planned on getting an Endura 4 there, but found them priced almost $20 higher than they are on their own website so decided to order one instead.  It will be here tomorrow if the USPS Tracking is correct.  I really liked the feel and balance and light weight of it.  I'm sure I'll eventually end up with a PM2 down the road, but for for now I think these two were good choices for the ~$100 price point. 

wow, thanks guys for all the responses!  i didn't expect so many.  i really appreciate all the input and advice.  Big thanks to jimmydeuce for posting that size pic...very helpful.  i have a date tomorrow with SMKW in Sevierville to look at the different options.     so here's what i'm thinking...basically i have two options.  option 1, i can get a spyderco PM2 or a benchmade or ZT model and have just one... or option 2 is i could go with a RAT1 & an Endura/Delica 4 for about the same price.  I really like the RAT1 feel (i've held and used one of those before).  i kinda leaning towards options 2...

while I've got a few quality fixed blades, some that i carry EDC, I've had the itch for a quality folder for a bit.  I've narrowed my thoughts down to a handful, but i'm curious what quality EDC folders you guys use?  I think I've narrowed the field to a couple of different spyderco's (Native, Delica4, Endura4, paramilitary), the Ontario RAT 1, and a SOG model that's escaping me right now.