High Exposure

Have a kid! That's what I did Those pirate ships and the tri-planes are wicked!

I stand by my statement. I know that no one likes to be told they have an ugly baby, but the fact of the matter is - Spikes Tactical lowers are not "High Quality". I wasn't commenting on if your rifle was "nice". In a thread questioning a lower's dimensions and how it mates sloppily to an upper, the observation has merit no matter if you like it or not. Are they functional? Generally, but I have seen many issues with them in particular. Mis-aligned or too large trigger and hammer pin holes, cracked front takedown pin holes, crooked threads for grip screws, no threads for grip screws, cracked receiver extension threads from normal use, hammer or trigger pin holes opening up with use, bad or non durable finishes, and bad tolerances all around that lead to some pretty severe tolerance stacking when using low quality lower parts kits. It is true that a relatively small number of companies make the lower forgings that most companies use. After the lowers are forged they are categorized by how close they are to the TDP specs. They are mic'd and placed into categories and priced on their quality as measured by their adherence to the TDP. Companies then buy them at costs they can afford for the numbers they want - the costs being a reflection of their "in-spec-ness". Also, being "Mil spec" and producing a rifle to the TDP is more complicated than just the materials used. It involves manufacturing process, testing protocols, finishing specs and specific assembly instructions. This all costs money as well. If you think you are getting the best quality lowers out there paying Spikes prices I have a bridge to sell you. That is not saying that you can't get a deal, but on its face - it is what it is. As I said, Spikes Tactical lowers are typically functional, but they are not high quality. There is no such thing as a free lunch - Loose/sloppy upper to lower fit, loose bolt catch or mag release fit, increased chance of cracked front takedown pin holes and receiver extension threads, premature wear at the trigger and hammer pins, are the price you will pay for saving money up front. They are a low price option of middling value. Depending on your intended use and firing schedule, it may serve you well and be "good enough". That still doesn't make it "High Quality".

Sorry Bob, just saw this reply. With a pistol it should be even easier. Keep your right eye closed and zero the MRDS to your left eye. With a pistol it shouldn't be more than a slight head shift/tilt. With a good zero you may not even need to do that. You can also try to put a piece of scotch tape on your shooting glasses right over your right eye. This should help train your left eye to take over a little more. Eventually it should be second nature to superimpose the dot on the target in a fashion that will work for you with your "new" eyes. You may also want to ditch the Burris FF for a MRDS with a glass aperture like the Insight MRDS or a Trijicon RMR. In my experience they offer a much cleaner dot to start with then the plastic aperture on the Burris and the old Trijicon MRDSs.

I wish I knew about is earlier! I would have had a Rocket party!!! I love this stuff! People built a vehicle that will launch from Earth and go to the motherlovin' moon! That amazes the crap out of me. The amount of knowledge we have gained in such a short time is truly awesome! What we still don't know is humbling... This kind of stuff makes me harder than Chinese arithmetic!

Watch live online here: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html#.UiqX-2S9Kc3 Click the Android or OIS link to the left of the box of on mobile phone or tablet.

And it will be visible from NJ AT AROUND 11:27 PM! It is a new rocket class, the Minotaur 5 - a five stage spin stabilized rocket carrying an unmanned payload called the LADEE. http://www.ibtimes.com/nasa-ladee-launch-live-stream-how-watch-moon-probe-launch-friday-night-1403048

Yup. Add in an 8 day work week, 2 training days a month, and off-shift mandatory staff meetings and it gets crazy.... Yeah, spring or fall is the way to go. I also suggest looking into his 2 day classes.

You need a slide rule to figure out my schedule.... We can chat at class.

Me too

The receiver end plate holds a spring, the spring puts pressure on a detent that captuers the rear takedown pin in place and holds it closed so it doesn't "un-pin" itself without a deliberate push. If you lose that detent or spring, it can be an inconvenience, but not a showstopper. Of greater importance, is the buffer retaining pin that is located at the 6 o'clock position where the receiver extension threads into the lower receiver. This pin is held in place by the receiver extension itself and is captured in its location by the very end of the receiver extension on it's last 1/4-1/8 turn as you install it. If the receiver extension nut gets loose enough that the receiver extension itself can turn 1/8 to 1/4 revolution counterclockwise, it will release the buffer retaining pin. If that pin gets loose and into the guts of your rifle it will need Armorer level service to get it back up and running. I know that's a lot of "if's" - but they are "ifs" that are avoided by the easily reversible and simple procedure of properly staking the receiver end plate to the receiver extension nut.

You should stake the receiver extension nut in 2 places after being appropriately torqued. It is easy to do and just as easy to undo, but provides security that the rifle will continue to run, even after mortaring or banging the stock on something, not to mention the constant vibration from firing can work it loose enough to be a headache. This is especially important if attaching a sling - either a simgle point or 2 point sling - to your rifle by using the receiver end plate is: Magpul ASAP or a bolt on over the receiver extension nut like the Tangodown PR4. In addition to the takedown pin spring - which will fly out with less than an 1/8" of movement of the receiver end plate - the buffer retaining pin is also only held in by 1/4 turn, or less, of the receiver extension. If the receiver extension nut gets loose and the receiver extension backs out 1/4-1/8 turn, not only will you launch the takedown pin spring, but you could release the buffer retaining pin into the guts of your carbine. If that happens your rifle is going down hard. You can easily stake a receiver extension nut with a spring loaded centerpunch in a pinch. You can also break open a staked receiver extension nut with nothing but the right wrench and a sturdy friend. I did work on 3 Colt factory staked receiver extensions - installing Magpul ASAP plates - last week with nothing but a Multitasker Multitool with a receiver extension nut wrench and a co-worker. Easy day. You just shouldn't use the receiver end plate a second time if it has been staked.

I am registered for the S&T class on 9/14 in Bethlehem PA with 2 guys from work. I will post an AAR after the class.

Best advice in the thread. Contrary to popular belief "Spikes" is not a "high quality" lower. That being said, all of my ARs have some play between the upper and lower, including the 3 brand new Colt ARs I have been issued over the last 10 years. It is normal and nothing to concern yourself over.

This X100000000 This is why WECSOG armorers building guns that they claim are "just as good as..." with the flawed concept that "parts are parts" rears it's ugly head and bites some poor guy on the ass and saddles him with a "finicky" "quirky" "picky" gun that will only run on Tuesdays after a full moon with the right ammo and the unicorn tears for lube. Nothing is as good as a gun built to the TDP except a gun built to the TDP.

Just got off work.... Busy night. From reading the post, I assumed he was a class I/II or Aux Officer that is also an NRA or some other non LEO FI.

I am assuming he means a Class I or II or possibly a Police Aux.

I will be looking into this further. Thanks!I am looking into this class pretty seriously. Last night I sent an email requesting more specifics and to see how many openings are available. I am Awaiting a response now.

That is a BS excuse. Where you led by the hand and taught everything you need to know at your job? Or did you show some initiative and seek out more information on topics that you found yourself lacking or wanted a deeper understanding of. If you don't know your job essential knowledge is lacking, that is one thing, you can't know what you don't know and not everyone can know everything. I also understand that everyone has certain strengths and weaknesses, maybe he is the "go to guy" for information one Drugs, Domestic Violence, or Traffic laws. But once it is pointed out to you that you have holes in your knowledge, entire sections of knowledge that you are responsible to know that are severely lacking, it is up to you to fix them. That is part of being a professional. Tell him to read this. See if he gets anything from it: http://www.benning.army.mil/infantry/199th/ocs/content/pdf/Message%20to%20Garcia.pdf

Exactly. Local American's didn't have drinking water and fuel to last two weeks. It was like Mad Max at the gas pumps. Where are they going to find "resources to fight a long and protracted insurgency". Food stores have 3 days worth of food and people don't know how to live off the land or repair their own stuff anymore.

100% legal to own an Auto or M16 BCG. I am embarrassed that a LEO, even part time, doesn't know this I swear, I am going to write up a NJ firearms law primer and start teaching in the academies and offering in house training for patrol divisions.

Griz, I think another very salient point about the difference between the Revolution and a modern invasion is that there was little to no discrepancy in the arms used by the "Professional Soldiers" of the British army and those used by the militia men and soldiers of the "Continental Army". The Colonists were on relatively equal footing with the Soldiers. There wasn't one side with tanks, artillery, bombers, and attack helicopters fighting a "native" force armed with only small arms. On an unrelated note. I thought this was an exercise on the effectiveness of a civilian led guerrilla campaign to stop an invasion. I am not saying our military wouldn't still prevail, I am saying that the "Gun behind every blade of grass" concept is flawed and not the deterrent everyone thinks it is.

Ears: I use Peltor ComTacs for general range use, indoors and out. I have 2 sets of MSA Sordin Supreme Pro X headsets (one over the top, one behind the neck) with mics and comms leads for work. Eyes: I have 2 pairs of Oakley Ballistic M Frames 2.0 with different lens tint options for general range and work use. I also have some Revision goggles (I forget which model) for when goggles are indicated. Make sure that any eyepro you wear is ballistically rated. Look up the military standard here and make sure what you choose applies and passes.

Yes. They are crap in my experience. Glocks rely on the mag springs for proper ejection. Don't skimp here. In my experience, magazines issues are the #1 cause for malfunctions in most modern quality pistols. To take it a step further, you should spend a little extra on your mags. I use Wolf 10% over springs in all of my duty mags and swap them out every other year. The Wolf springs from the duty mags, which are basically brand new as they see a lot of carry time but very little actual use (very few cycles of compression and relaxation - maybe one mag dump a year when I shoot my duty ammo up and replace it with fresh stuff) go into my training and comp mags (which go through many hundreds of cycles in 2 years) when the new springs go into the duty mags. The spring in the number 1 duty mag for each gun (the mags that primarily stay loaded in the gun all the time) gets chucked instead of "handed down" as that mags is constantly being downloaded by 1 - with the once chambered round going into the training bucket - and plussed back up again with a fresh and previously unchambered round while doing admin type stuff with the pistol.

He is wrong. A grenade launcher is on the list of "Evil Features". Because the notch is for the mounting of a grenade launcher, maybe he got confused. N.J.A.C. 13:54-1.2 Definitions 2i. A semi-automatic rifle that has the ability to accept a detachable magazine and has at least two of the following: (1) A folding or telescoping stock; (2) A pistol grip that protrudes conspicuously beneath the action of the weapon; (3) A bayonet mount; (4) A flash suppressor or threaded barrel designed to accommodate a flash suppressor; and (5) A grenade launcher

If you cant fix it with a hammer, get a bigger hammer