Hey Leland, do you go by "lelandeod" on another forum? The handle reminded me of you.

Well, today was a totally unexpected $800 shopping day for AR parts. So I'm selling my SIG P229 in NP3 to cover some of the damage. I listed a stripped lower and lower parts kit on our local gun nut BBS and had it sold in under five min. with multiple offers. Man, it's getting nuts out there with AR stuff. I'm in the wrong business.

http://www.fototime.com/32FA2E967615684/standard.jpg

Things slowed down quite a bit with AR parts. There's already signs of dealers liquidating the overstocked at pre-election prices. Come November or so there may be some hard to refuse deals. But the temptation to buy now is strong :). That's a good looking Sig, Rick. Build yourself an AR pistol from that Spikes lower to make up for the loss of the Sig :)

What would you guys consider pre-bubble pricing on .223 ammo? Military surplus is around $350 per 1000. I was thinking about getting a Mini 14, but ammo pricing is pushing me away from .223 and towards a rifle based on 7.62. Does .223 always trade at a premium to 7.62?

Ammo will probably be elevated for awhile because some of the new owners are still stocking or learning to shoot. If you're going to have only one rifle and you want lower cost ammo 7.62 is probably the way to go.

Here's a thought-you can get an AR and have two rifles for the cost of 1.5. You can fit a 7.62 barrel to it, add bolt and magazine and you can shoot cheap Russian ammo. If you happen to have a quick change upper receiver you can swap in a couple of minutes. There is some tuning involved but once done you should have some fun with it.

Also, if you don't have a finicky barrel in 5.56 you can shoot Wolf or Bear ammo which is pretty cheap.

With the dropping prices of ARs you might consider them over the mini.

I've been debating whether to go Eotech or Aimpoint for quite some time. Both have their strengths and weaknesses, but in general I like the parralax (sp) free optics. My feeling is that in a panic situation (meaning any time I have to use the AR for real) I want to point and shoot, not worry about my position, alignment, etc...

If I can find my summary, I'll post it later.

Since we're back on topic:

Read this thread. I was ready to buy an Aimpoint until I decided on the M3 version.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=124&t=447314

I can't recall if it is posted in that thread but the guy destroyed one to verify the internals weren't just taped on.


Jurgen- you can get a .22lr conversion for an AR and shoot all the cheap ammo you want. Spikes and CMMG have stainless steel kits that work great.

Yup, I go by lelandeod on many forums. Pelican was the first BBS I found way back in "the day" and I really didn't grasp the purpose of an internet "handle". So, I used my real name.

Haven't done that since.

:)

Cool. It's funny who you can run into on the web :)

If you're mounting an m-16 right the iron sights automatically line themselves up.

If the choice is either an Eotech or an Aimpoint I would go for the Eotech. The Aimpoint (M68) is probably the most common optic in the Army and given the choice most soldeirs will fight for either an ACOG or an Eotech. Truth be told most soldiers try to get an ACOG because it makes their rifle qualification a near certainty. But like many have stated here there are many great options out there. Leupold makes a nice 4 power scope, and the new Elcan goes between either 4x or no 1x. It's a pricey piece of glass though.

Matt

Here were my notes on Aimpoint vs. Eotech. (Never tried the Acog (Trijicon), but I'll take a look, IIRC those are big $$$)

Aimpoint +

Battery Life way higher.
Aimpoint waterproof at higher depths.
insane battery life....10,000 hrs on one battery
simple operation...single roll on/off control rheostat
comes with lens covers. (can be used as an Occluded Eye Gunsite in very bright sunlight)
Rugged
choice of 2 or 4 MOA dot


Aimpoint -

Broken optic renders unuable
More expensive of the 2.
Expensive mounts, no mount included.
30mm tube very slightly slower than Eotech window
Dot initially harder to locate in bright sunlight


Eotech +

Faster aquisition of targets, especially close range
Smaller dot (1 moa), less obscuring of the target at range.
65 MOA circle w/ 1 MOA dot. Lets you pick up targets fast and still be precise.
Lots of brightness adjustments several models with different batteries, including easy to find AA batteries.
Built in mount, commercial QD mounts available.
Less expensive than a comparable Aimpoint.
Rugged
Can be used with partially obscured optic



Eotech -

Too frequent brightness adjust if moving from shadow to bright (like in a forest)
Push buttons harder to operate under stress. On--touch a button. Brighten, touch 1 button (repeatedly). Dim, 1 button (repeatedly). Off, hold both buttons at once.

After some reserch, I think Im gravitating to the Eotech. When I hit the range this week, i'll try a few out before I drop the $$

Good video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF6fGJiXoNA&NR=1

Most of the issues he had with the Eotech are resolved using the GG&G quick cam mount and covers. Nice package deals from GG&G

My brother just bought an ACOG last night. IMO a lot of this stuff is VASTLY overpriced.

.

Amen!

Red dot trivia question! So who can name this piece of equipment for me? :D

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3...per/reddot.jpg

This is the first red dot i had:
http://www.aimpoint.com/cache/ttf/0e...a0eed6b8c8.jpg
AIMPOINT 1000

And this is the last:
http://www.aimpoint.com/cache/ttf/0e...70eeabe072.jpg
AIMPOINT 2000 (mine was black)

It was at this time that i realized that ANY optical sight, regardless of type or zoom, could be utilized as an occulated 2 eye binocular sight.

But don't tell anyone, i'd hate to ruin the "racket" that these red dot sight companies have going. ;)

Anyone of you fine lads would be better served with a 1.5-4x or 2-7x unlimited relief pistol type scope with illuminated reticle than most red dot type sights on the market.

Not to jack this thread around too much but as it is already wavering a little; is it possible to make a stainless Colt AR barrel matte black? Ceramicote?

Yes, lots of refinishing shops should be able to do it for you. But you might be better off selling what you have and buying what you want.

There are some companies that have black treatments for stainless. I think Robar had one that i saw when Rick sent me the link to their site in my HK P7 thread.

AR related content, my god son in his uncle billy's gear:

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b3.../Mikeym161.jpg