JoeBobOutfitters

I have a M1Sales 20" heavy barrel varmint upper. It has worked well. I bought a BCG and charging handle elsewhere, but their upper+barrels aren't bad deals for the price! I would say with a 223 you'd be fine, but as noted, stay away from them at the current time for things like 6.8.

I've got 3 870's in various forms from 1950's 20GA wing-master to 12GA home defense magnum. Any of the big name pump shotguns should work well for you. The Remington 870's are pretty iconic for a pump, as is the Mossberg 500

YHM Gas Block Riser<--Riser for $33.50+ the TGO Discount It does add a bit of cost to the setup, but it would depend on what type of sights you already have/want to run. It's easier to swap the FSP+ Gas Block Riser in-between guns than swap a gas-block, obviously.

Correct, a virgin lower is considered "other" until you make it a pistol or rifle, so you must be 21 to buy one now legally because it can be a pistol in its current form. I have a Keltec PLR-16 piston driven AR pistol. It doesn't break the bank at $450, has a shorter OAL without an awkward pistol tube, and has a bit longer barrel than avg AR pistols. It serves it's purpose as a fun toy, Congressional "Assault rifle" ban hedge fund, and zombie annihilator.

I like the AFG over a vertical grip, but that's just my personal taste.

I'd probably look at a 9" free float quad-rail handguard midlength upper. This seems to be the most popular option these days for a reason, IMO. The midlength gas system will be a little softer shooting and less hard on components than a carbine, which isn't needed unless you want super short barrels. We've got some Spike's Midlength M4-LE 9" BAR Rail uppers en route right now. Arguably one of the better deals out there for what you're getting out of the box. They've been backordered since October...and we've had customers wait the entire time for them. We've still got some unaccounted for in this shipment. If you use coupon code "TN" you get 5% off our entire website. We sell a decent variety of AR upgrades and normal parts and pieces. I'd first decide what gas system you want, if you want a Front Sight Post or not, and then what size handguard. I would recommend buying your first AR upper "built" if possible. The lowers are relatively easy to assemble, but the uppers are much more complex and need more tools to do so. For the most part, an AR lower is an AR lower, so even "offbrands" are generally good to go. Some brands have more or less fit and finish, but they'll all get the job done. You can go with the standard handguards and always upgrade later if you want. The Magpul MOE Handguards are a pretty inexpensive upgrade to standard Carbine or Midlength handguards that aren't freefloated.

The most I've paid for a stripped lower was $114.95 for a DPMS a few years back. Lowers are being made in high enough bulk, and people are starting to realize that a mil-spec lower is a mil-spec lower. Forgers like Aero Precision, LAR, etc do most of the AR-market. For the most part, tomatoe tomato when it come to lowers. The Surplus Arms & Ammo/Aero Precision/Spike's are pretty good deals these days. They're all made by Aero Precision, AFAIK.

Soon to be suppressed...

I've got a plum crazy lower under a Nordic Components NC22 upper. Had to dremel the polymer hammer a bit to get it to work properly with the proprietary Nordic "bolt carrier", but otherwise it wasn't bad. The polymer lower has held up fine...not a problem with it. Shot a few hundred through it this afternoon. It wouldn't be my first choice as an operator, primarily due to the plastic takedown pins, but it gets the job done, and is light and inexpensive.

I've seen people use magnets, rakes, and the golf ball roller picker-upper-things at trap/skeet/sporting clays I've been on.

The Keltec Shotgun is pretty dang cool. We got our hands on it here at the SHOT show in Vegas. Functions REALLY well. The pump feels very natural as is, but did not get to try it with an AFG or VFG, etc. The selector in between tubes is really cool. Very simple, easy to use, and user friendly. It'd be hard to screw it up. The weight is pretty good with both tubes, and I'm sure fully loaded it'd be pretty hefty. Not bad, but definitely more than you would expect from a "plasticy" looking Keltec shotgun. Looks like they'll be ~yr out timeline wise, but....of course that could always be pushed back Pretty sweet! I'll definitely be getting one. Also, the tubes are designed for 2 3/4" shells BUT, the receiver is up to 3" shells. You can manually load (pretty easily) 3" shells through the bottom if you wanted to.

I carry in my bank daily...they happen to be the only bank in the area not posted, and are business friendly. Can't beat that with a stick

We met with SOG this weekend at the SHOT show. From what I gathered (by no means am I an expert in their product) all their blades come from Taiwan. Some blades I saw were not marked at all on country of origin either.