OT: The Art of the Deal
 

I just parlayed a cat into an AR-15/M4 carbine. Yep. I've wanted a semi-auto rifle for a while now but the wife was just not having it. I even found a couple of very affordable ARs at, of all places, Wal Mart, but she wouldn't budge an inch- no amount of research or reasoned arguments ("I really want one, hon.") would sway her. In all fairness, I was the same way about cats. She had a couple when we got married and, when they moved on about 8 years ago, I vowed never again. I've held strong all that time. Well, we're at the pet store on Sunday and she spots this little grey tabby.

"Can we get a cat?" She asks, giving me her best puppy dog eyes.

"Can I get a rifle?" I counter, with a hint of bitterness.

She called my bluff, or I called hers- either way, there's a little grey tabby running around my house and I'm the proud owner of Windham Weaponry M4A3/SRC .223/5.56mm carbine.

That, my friends, is how it's done.

Remember, Mr. Rifle does not get to play with Mr. Kitty, at any range.

lol... just wait, it's not over yet. Better start thinking of the next thing you want she doesn't want you to have, just in case.

Never heard of Windham Weaponry, but congrats anyway.

I'm so glad I don't have that problem. Not with the ex-wife, and not with the current girlfriend.

I don't have a wife, or girlfriend to put a stop to those dreams... just a paranoid government prone to knee jerk reactions over mass killings. :(

Thread calls for an uploaded pic or two doesn't it, so I can really get jealous.

+1

What a great deal. Too bad I've already reached the household limit of 2 cats and one dog. Hmmm. One cat is pretty old (about 17 years), maybe I should make some plans.

Congradulations!

Well played, Sir!!

(Tip of the hat)

My $0.02

Mike

Nicely done! And now that you have them both, one problem solves the other ;)

I think if Raellus uses rifle on kitty, wife will use rusty knife on Raellus...NOT a good thing.

My $0.02

Mike

Aww, I spoke in jest. Although I wish I'd thought of the AR suggestion before the wife brought the new cat home last fall.

I wonder if I can still work that deal when my black lab dies... ;)

Good luck with that, Raket. You have to make the deal with something the WIFE wants. You were the one who said "My black lab". Not picking on you, but I have survived 26 years married to Mrs. Mike. (Or, she has tolerated me for 26 years. take your pick! :p)

You learn when and where to fight battles. (PIck your ground VERY carefully!!!)

My $0.02

Mike

I've got something like an 80% casualty rate. I keep getting sucked into ambushes and spoiling attacks :P

Ahhh, young grasshopper. You have not learned the two most IMPORTANT words that ANY man needs to learn during marriage.

"YES,DEAR" !!!!

My $0.02

Mike

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:

http://www.de-fenestra.com/_assets/p...ctical_cat.jpg

- C.

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.

@ Rae:
Well done!

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

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 $$$).

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!

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!

Magpul MBUS and Aimpoint PRO for the win.

- C.

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

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.

I'm jealous.

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.

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.

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.

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

I'm getting even more jealous, and you guys aren't helping :(

:D

Don't worry, I wont share any pics of my 'friends'. :D

Oh, please do!! You know we all want to "ooooh" and "ahhh" and drool. :D

Besides, I would like to learn what an "ACOG" is. (Ignorant on this topic)

My $0.02

Mike

I like EOTechs on the range, but they aren't always-on like Aimpoints, and battery life is significantly lower. With an Aimpoint, you can leave it on at a decent illumination level, change the battery once a year, and have confidence the dot will always be there if you need to grab it. With an EOTech, you have to go through the extra step of booting up your sight before it's ready to rock.

(Yes, Eddie, you told me so, and it only took three years for me to figure out you were right.)

- C.

I have Tritium sites on a handgun. Their great except I have had them installed in 1995. The tritium is all consumed now and doesn't glow any more. I will have to ship the slide off to the factory and have Trijicon replace the tritium vials.

When that happens I will be good for another 10-12 years.

I've considered doing that with my USP Tactical and Mk 23. Money is a major factor now, and still haven't decided if it's what I really want. I'd LIKE some tritium/fiber optic sights for both, but never did find any (and haven't looked in a while).

ACOGs are insanely expensive. I envy anyone who can afford one. It looks like the U.S. military hands 'em out like candy. It's great for the troops but, holy crap, imagine the cost. That's like at least $2000 per soldier/Marine/sailor/airman just for basic weapon and optics.

My reality is that the wife will never allow me to spend more than probably $200 (probably optimistic) on a sight, and not anytime soon. Until that day, I'll have to settle for the discount options.

I guess I should just be thankful that I could afford the rifle, and that I live in a country where I'm permitted to own one.

Theyre not that bad, really. I think I paid about $1100 or so for mine. I also spent a LOT of time scouring the Net.

Quality costs, esp when it comes to firearms. If you want it, I'm confident you'll find a way.

Yes. Yes you should. :D