98Z5V

Me, too, brother. BATFE stated that solid construction was classified as AP - and the Barnes solid copper, is still a solid. They gained an exception for .308, so you're safe with that one. I don't have very many 70gr .224 diameter projos left, and I'm saving them. I'm ging to have a machinist buddy make me a die based on them. Here's the text of the notification letter from Barnes: January 23, 2012 Dear Customer: There has been speculation regarding certain component and ammunition products within the shooting community. The purpose of this letter is to inform our valued customers of the status of Barnes Banded Solids’ availability as components, and in Barnes VOR-TX Safari ammunition. In October 2011, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (“ATF”) classified twelve individual Barnes Banded Solid projectiles as armor piercing ammunition. Following these classifications, Barnes submitted individual “exemption request” petitions to ATF. If the petitions are approved, the projectiles will be removed from the statutory definition of armor piercing ammunition, and therefore Barnes will have clearance to continue manufacturing and selling these projectiles. As of today’s date, ATF has not ruled on any of the petitions requesting the removal of the Banded Solid projectiles from the statutory definition of armor piercing ammunition. Accordingly, the following eleven Banded Solid projectiles (currently listed in the 2012 Barnes Catalog) are subject to exemption requests that are pending with ATF. Please note that Barnes is not pursuing an exemption for the .223 caliber Banded Solid projectile at this time. The .223 caliber Banded Solids are not listed in the 2012 Barnes catalog or on the Barnes website: 25 Cal 243 Cal 264 Cal 270 Cal 284 Cal 308 Cal 338 Cal 375 Cal 410 Cal 458 Cal (45-70) 458 SOCOM While we await determination from ATF on these calibers, and in compliance with the original classification by ATF, the projectiles listed above will not be available for purchase from Barnes. However, if and when the exemption requests are approved, the projectiles at issue will become available for purchase at that time. We are confident that most, if not all, of our removal requests with ATF will be successful, and that we will soon be able to provide these calibers to our hunting and sport-shooting customers around the world. In the meantime, we will be happy to answer questions regarding these projectiles and/or the VOR-TX Safari ammunition loaded with these projectiles. Please note the Banded Solids components and VOR-TX Safari ammunition products loaded with Banded Solids not included in the aforementioned calibers (e.g. 416, 470 and 500) and TSX bullets are not subject to the current armor piercing classification and continue to be available for purchase. We at Barnes recognize the inconvenience caused by lack of access to the appropriate products for individual sporting or hunting purposes. We will continue to aggressively seek immediate resolution to this issue, and inform our customers as further information is provided by ATF. Please refer to www.barnesbullets.com/products/rifle/banded-solids/ for future updates. We look forward to your continued business and wish you the best in the New Year. http://www.barnesbullets.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Barnes-Customer-Update-Banded-Solids-2012.pdf

Yes, that is gouging, but it's a "weird kind" of gouging... <laughs> That damn pistol has been pushed out of Kel-Tec in very limited numbers, since it's introduction. It's been "individually gouged" since release, just due to it's low numbers. The current situation certainly isn't helping, and it's definitely got the price a little higher, but that thing has been high $$$ and hot-to-get the whole time.

The unicorn... <lmao> <laughs>

Picked up two more Accurate Mag steel 10-rd 308 mags for the bolt guns. Bought them from an auction site for $80.99 each. Not bad, considering full MSRP from Accurate Mag is $70, and the Ruger full MSRP is $74.99. It is what it is, right now. Sadly, the Ruger version was going for Low $50-ish at retailers, prior to the horse poopy. Google "Ruger 90353" to see some of the silliness...

Yep. It got the solids. Barnes TSX to be exact. Barnes applied for alot of exceptions, and got them passed, but they didn't apply for an exception for the .224 diameter projectiles...

Nope. I just build more rifles.

Figured you'd like this, brother. <thumbsup>

Fixed that for ya. <thumbsup> Bet your ass, if/when they fail at an "Assault Weapons Ban," they WILL get a mag cap ban, and they'll go after ammo right after that. January 2012, BATFE already got us on some ammo - did anyone know that?... <munch>

Hell yeah, out on their ass. Also, not only out on their ass, but with NO continuing oaycheck for the rest of their lives, and NO healthcare. Just get the fcuk out.

Tackleberry, this is a build. There's no warranty on that.

Someone has to be able to photoshop this one... <lmao> <laughs>

Dirt colors turn me on - what can I say? <dontknow> <laughs> Look at all the interesting earth tones you have here - what's not to like? :o

You'll be able to remove the tube, and it'll go right over a lo-pro block. Gas tube stays in place, too. If you're only taking off the tube itself. All that stuff comes off if you're removing the barrel nut. Front & rear sights will need to be same plane - they won't work if not. You won't be able to zero them. Since you're not getting back up sights right now, don't worry about it - save it for later. Get a fore end that has a rail on top (if you don't want a quad-rail). Run the front sight on the end of the top rail. That can be a plan for later, and it's easy. Basically - use a lo-pro gasblock, and don't worry about finding a gas block that you can mount a front sight on. Toss a MagPul flip-up on the end of your rail/fore end, down the road.

Yes, a lo-pro will fit under a rail - but that doesn't mean you have to cover it. It can sit outside the rail. PRI also does railed gas blocks, and gas blocks with flip-up front sights on them. What I linked previously (the PRI page) was all AR-15 stuff. If you buy one of those appropriately-sized lo-pro blocks, it'll go right on your rifle. If you want a railed gas block or one with flip-up sights, make sure you get into the 308 AR page on the PRI website... http://www.precisionreflex.com/Products.aspx?CAT=4822

He picked up a few BHP mags a couple years ago, along with some mags for other guns he doesn't own - in the anticipation that he'd buy those guns one day. He doesn't have a BHP, though. I mean, if he had one, he'd certainly post pics of it... ;D <thumbsup>

Doesn't work that way, buddy. What you're seeing from the front of that gas block - you shouldn't be seeing. Wouldn't matter if you submerged the thing in oil. That carbon and poop shouldn't be coming out of the front of the gas block.

<laughs> I'm already in for that one, brother, big time. :o

Had to do it, brother... <laughs> Fixed that for ya... <lmao>

Huh? Drew has a BHP?... ??? <dontknow> I think you're confused, brother - Drew doesn't have a BHP...

Here's my opinion about hydraulic buffers:

Don't waste your time drilling dimples, man. If you take that block off, throw it away. In the pic below, you see that stuff coming out of the block at the front? On the barrel? That shouldn't be there, at all. It won't matter how much you tighten that block, it's not sealing against the barrel.

You shouldn't have anything coming out of that block, except a little bit of carbon around the gas tube exit, when you initially fire it. If you have oil coming out of the front, gas is pushing it out. That hole that's bored right down the middle of that gas block isn't "round," in my opinion. I don't have it in my hand to look at and play with, so I can't be certain, but that's the only thing I can come up with. If it was too large of a hole, it wouldn't have been tough to put on. If it's not round, it can be tough to get on, but it's not going to seal. Just like what's going on here with yours. That thing was made on a Friday, assembly line-style...

^^^ Hell yeah, brother!!! ;D I picked up my Mernickle holster for the 4" Kimber Tac Pro II at that show. <thumbsup> EDIT - Glad I read this thread again! Just ordered another Mernickle Extreme High Rise for the XD45! <thumbsup> ;D

Holy Fcuk.

I'd start right there. Shitcan that DPMS gas block and get something else. No kidding. Precision Reflex, Inc (PRI) currently has all their gas blocks, minus one, in stock. Prices are normal, too. I can guarantee you (and so can they) that the gas block you receive will be perfection. http://www.precisionreflex.com/Control_Brake_pr-4274.aspx?CAT=4274