OT: The Art of the Deal

[Tegyrius]

I wouldn't be too quick to write off the cat, Rae. After all, with proper selection and training, you can have a Tactical Cat:

• low-observable
• night/all-weather-capable
• self-cleaning
• self-sharpening

Unfortunately, Tactical Cats tend to overestimate their proficiency in other areas and then you have the damnedest time getting them out of the armory:



- C.

[waiting4something]

Congrats on the new carbine! I think Windam Weapons is just the old Bushmaster Firearms factory brought back online. Bushmaster used to be in Windam, Maine until a few years ago. Now they are in New York and under Remington. When they were in Windam, Maine I was always pleased with the customer service.

[B.T.]

@ Rae:
Well done!

@ Tegyrius:
LOL - A tactical cat - who would not want one

[Adm.Lee]

My parents had a standing agreement: if he got a new brass locomotive for his model railroad, she got a new coat (or other item of clothing worth a lot of $$$).

[Raellus]

Congrats on the new carbine! I think Windam Weapons is just the old Bushmaster Firearms factory brought back online. Bushmaster used to be in Windam, Maine until a few years ago. Now they are in New York and under Remington. When they were in Windam, Maine I was always pleased with the customer service.

WW was started by the old Bushmaster owner and a good chunk of the production crew that was bought out/laid off when Remington acquired the company. Apparently, the new Bushmaster has presided over a significant drop-off in QC, as they appear to favor quantity over quality. WW is supposedly going back to its roots, producing fewer rifles (than Remington) and increasing overall quality. I haven't had a chance to fire it yet, but my WW AR looks and feels very well-made. The fit and finish are quite nice. Considering what I paid for it, I think I got a very good deal. Unfortunately, I'm going to need to spend some more to get some decent sights for it. It amazes me how expensive standard irons are, and "premium" optics are almost as expensive as the weapon itself!

[weswood]

every time I read this thread I'm reminded of the old joke- I got a new rifle for my wife. What a great trade!

[Tegyrius]

Unfortunately, I'm going to need to spend some more to get some decent sights for it. It amazes me how expensive standard irons are, and "premium" optics are almost as expensive as the weapon itself!

Magpul MBUS and Aimpoint PRO for the win.

- C.

[Targan]

every time I read this thread I'm reminded of the old joke- I got a new rifle for my wife. What a great trade!

Or another oldie but goodie: "I'm missing my ex-wife - I need to aim better".

[Raellus]

Magpul MBUS and Aimpoint PRO for the win.

Shnikeys! The Aimpoint PRO costs over half what the rifle did! I'll be lucky if I can squeeze out another $100 for this gun. There's no way I'm getting another cat!

For the moment, I think I'm going with a decent pair of flip up BUIS and a cheap-o open reflex sight. In a couple of years, I'll lobby for a good optic.

[Targan]

I'm jealous.

[stg58fal]

Shnikeys! The Aimpoint PRO costs over half what the rifle did! I'll be lucky if I can squeeze out another $100 for this gun. There's no way I'm getting another cat!

For the moment, I think I'm going with a decent pair of flip up BUIS and a cheap-o open reflex sight. In a couple of years, I'll lobby for a good optic.

Don't.

Buy quality and you only pay once.

I'd imagine you can find any number of people who have gone the cheap route when it comes to anything firearm related, only to later turn around and pay for the quality item they should have bought in the first place. Whether it's magazines, optics, ammo, or the firearms themselves. I can't tell you how many people I've known who bought an SKS as their "Just in case shit gets real" rifle, because they couldn't afford an AR and the SKS was 'good enough'....until they took part in a simulation shoot we put together, and realized that pretty much the only thing the SKS has going for it is its low price. Ergonomics aren't good, accuracy isn't very good (though better than the el-cheapo AK's that were flooding the market 8 or so year ago, and gave AK's a bad name accuracy-wise), it holds less rounds and is slower to reload than the AR or AK.

In the end, they ALL bought AR's or AK's. But they'd spent anywhere from $300 to $800 on the SKS, depending on how much ammo, magazines or optics (always a bad choice, dressing up an SKS), and other assorted junk they'd bought for it. $800 could get 6 MagPul P-Mags (I've found them for as little as $11-$12 before online) and a case of 5.56mm ammo, and if you shopped wisely still have enough for you and a friend to have lunch at Five Guys, and the gas to get there.

Search the Interwebs and find a good optic for a decent price. Check out Lewis Machine & Tool. I can't remember if they made flip up sights, but their regular BUIS is excellent. Once I can afford to build again I may try MagPul's offering, but right now LMT is the only place I look for BUIS's.

And do what I do: scour the Marketplace at AR15.com and AR15Adviser, especially the former. If you're not a member, join. AR15.com is where I got my EOTech, years back.

Sorry for the rant. I've seen so many mistakes made when it comes to firearms, I try to keep people from making them over again. And yes, I've made a few myself.

[Panther Al]

I second the EOTech.

Those things are not insanely pricy, and solid optics. Get a magnifier for it and you are good to go.


Just don't go all geardo on us. I'm a believer in keeping it sparse: Optic, Light (Only put on when you need it, otherwise stays in its pouch on your rig), fore grip, and maybe a Laser (Laser/Light combos - if they are good ones, are a good idea) for the ability to make your point on someone without making the situation turn into a bad day in bosnia.

[stg58fal]

I second the EOTech.

Those things are not insanely pricy, and solid optics. Get a magnifier for it and you are good to go.


Just don't go all geardo on us. I'm a believer in keeping it sparse: Optic, Light (Only put on when you need it, otherwise stays in its pouch on your rig), fore grip, and maybe a Laser (Laser/Light combos - if they are good ones, are a good idea) for the ability to make your point on someone without making the situation turn into a bad day in bosnia.

This.

Though I tend to add a forward grip, esp on carbines. That's a personal preference kind of thing, though.

[weswood]

Not trying to hijack the thread, but when it comes to optics and weapon accessories, am I the only one who steers away from things that need batteries I've never had something that runs on batteries that didn't die on me when I needed it and I have a fear of that happening with a weapon.

[stg58fal]

No, and thats a valid concern. I also own an ACOG, and thats one reason I bought it.