I need a new handgun...lets talk guns today. :D

Apparently so, at the moment at least. Our "Senate Parliamentarian" has determined that the HPA and the SHORT act do not pass the "Byrd Rule"

Insert sad, loud noises here.

 

Interesting how one unelected activist has the authority to completely change bills that elected officials create.
A position that can and should be overruled by the majority leader or Vice President. And can be dismissed at any time.

 

We all should know better than to expect them to be freed……..ever the swirling turd before final flush

 

You sell the nx8 yet? Is it FDE or black? I should be getting the ATACR in the next couple days

 

still have it. black C598 f1 FC-Mil. Been out of town for a week and haven't had time to relist it yet. Original box and stuff with it.

 

Honestly, I have no idea. However, a lot of the guys that shoot ARs at my local range are shooting PSA ARs and have built them as projects. Not sure I'm quite there yet, but maybe at some point.

Same here. I was on a list that had the model w/ the brace for $995 w/ no tax + free shipping and 30 minutes later they were sold out. I'm happy to keep waiting and appreciate you sharing the link... $799 is an amazing price. Do you plan to get one? What add-ons do you plan to get?

You had a lot of rifle stuff pictured and you're always buying something new so I figured you'd have an opinion. I wasn't wrong.

The PCC is appealing because we're currently a 100% 9mm household. The Kuna lets me keep buying one type of ammo and doesn't force me into more expensive rifle calibers. Additionally, we're mostly shooting indoors so being 9mm allows for more versatility. As for reliability, the Kuna isn't made by Springfield. It's made by HS Produkts which makes the Springfield branded guns that have proven to be reliable; i.e., Echelon, Hellcat, Hellion, and HD.

Agreed on the PTR, it is rad, but man it's a lot of money. On that point where are you seeing real deal HK MP5s for under $3K? I am not likely to go that route regardless as part of me is eyeing an Atlas handgun as a birthday present to myself for myself that is totally beyond my skill level for, but hey, lets not let the facts get in the way of a good impulse buy.

As for Baer, I'm attending the pistol class in Arizona not Tennessee, but if I'm out that way, I'll let you know!

I'm with you there!

 

Just to throw another one in the mix- if you like and use other AR platform stuff, consider the CMMG Banshee. they have a new version in 9mm with a fixed extractor that fixes some issues people have had with the earlier models. I have an earlier model and haven't had any issues with mine and really like it. I considered some other options but since I'm pretty heavy on the AR stuff, it was easier to keep the same "manual of arms" for how it works, feels, accessories, etc. If I run into extraction issues, I'll "upgrade" the newer version but for now mine runs great. glock mag lower, short barrel with a can (dead air wolfman) and the AEMS Holosun optic. Shooting 150gr subs is pretty fun with it. Even put a LAW folder on it for really compact sizing if needed (fits in a small backpack easily).

 

Ah I think we discussed that (Arizona) before and I just forgot. I was actually out in Scottsdale myself a couple weeks ago. Stopped by Haley strategic and hung out with those guys for a bit. Super cool dudes over there.

Anyway, looks like the SP5 is exactly $3K at most places. PSA has some models for $2700. If you keep an eye on the right places, I believe I’ve seen them as low as 23-24 on sale. Go search reddit gundeals for sp5 and you’ll find some older posts to get an idea for the best price you’ll find with some patience.

 

Which Atlas are you eyeballing? Here's my Atlas procurement experiences summarized.

I ordered my Athena from Atlas via my local Atlas dealer....wait was 1 year almost exactly...it's longer now.

I got my Titan from smpguns.com in Chelsea, AL. Ms. Mitzi is just a sweet lady. Got another one on layaway with her now.

I got my Ares directly from Atlas....no wait..it was a rare blemished model.


That being said....your other consideration should, in my opinion, be a Hayes Custom Cobra. Ben and Aaron Hayes are AWESOME guys and absolutely MASTER builders of the 2011's.
Their Grandfather was Jim Clark, Sr. of Clark Custom Guns..they are artists. I've been to their shop in Texas. It's 20 minutes from Staccato Ranch. They do everything by hand. No computer CNC machines.
All their frames/slides/barrels/triggers are sourced from Atlas. VERY tight fit guns at a better value priced than Atlas, honestly. Problem is the wait. They release like 10-12 guns a week and my wait will be 18ish months.
Web site now says 24 months. They happened to have a Cobra on site the day we visited them, and as soon as that trigger broke, it was "TAKE MY MONEY!" Check out their youtube channel.

My two cents.

 

Unless you have to have the HK MP5 look at some of the clones. I have 2 AP5p Variants and they have both been dead nuts reliable. Atlantic currently has the core version for $1,129.00. Any problems with these tend to be fixed with an original HK extractor and spring. Spring is $10 and extractor is $55. Hard to beat as it comes with a threaded barrel and tri-lug already installed.
https://atlanticfirearms.com/century-ap5-p-HG6035A-N
https://www.midwestgunworks.com/hk-mp5/extractor.html
https://www.midwestgunworks.com/hk-mp5/extractor-spring.html
There is a reason these are so popular in the PCC world.

 

I'll check out Haley. Had not heard of them before. I am really looking forward to the class and am hoping you'll give me some inside baseball on your impressions of Baer once you've completed the medics course.

Thank you for chiming in. Can you share what the purchase process is with Atlas? Do you put down a deposit to reserve a build slot?

For me it is between the Apollo and the Titan. I am leaning toward the Titan because I really, really like the classic 5" form factor and it would be a competition ready model. However, The Apollo seems to be the most future proofed model that they currently offer, especially with their philosophy that a 4.6" barrel is the sweet spot + the porting. My only hesitation with the Apollo is that I would want to be able to compete with it but don't want to have to run in open. I am assuming that as more ported guns come on the market, the rules will have to allow them to run in SSP, ESP and LO at some point for IDPA.

As for other brands, I am still considering getting the Bul Tac Comp once it's available later this year. It's half the price of an Atlas, but for some irrational reason I want the Atlas even though I know I won't be able to discernibly shoot better with an Atlas over the Bul. If you have personal experience to continue to talk me into the Atlas (or not) I'm all ears. The same is for the Hayes, I am sure they're amazing guns, but I'm kind of in an Atlas or bust mood. It seems like they are the bench mark and I like how they've tried to "open source" the 2011 landscape. Maybe other brands have done this too, but Atlas seems to come up more than others. Additionally, whenever I have called to buy bits and bobs for my project 2011 they are a) helpful and patient even though I'm buy springs, ignition parts, and not a handgun and b) they answer the phone.

I certainly do not need to have an MP5. No way. I'll take a look at these and come back with questions. Thank you for sharing!

 

I can speak on Pakistani Ordinance Firearms (POF) MP5. It shoots identically to my 'real' HK-94.
Same pull, same feel, same accuracy, minimal re-coil, etc. I have both set up with the Holosun 510C

The target was the sight in of the POF at 20 yards from a benchrest
Top is first 10 shots
Bottom middle is second 10 shots (adjusted right ~1/2 the required distance)
Final 10 is below the sharpie dot.
Height separation between POA and POI is the exact height between barrel center and the Holosun's dot. (~2")

 

one option is to buy the Apollo with a spare barrel without ports. Run the non-ported barrel for competitions and the ported barrel for fun.

 

That's a good call. Looks like a spare barrel is $250.

Does this mean your vote is for the Apollo over the Titan? Any experience with either?

 

Oh really? Dude research Travis Haley. He kind of single handedly made tactical training in the civilian world popular. Back in early-mid 2000s he partnered with Magpul to make the Magpul Dynamics DVDs which were essentially tactical instruction videos. He also holds the patents to what feels like all of Magpul’s early furniture designs. His instructional videos on YouTube now are tied for my favorite with Baer. Very scientific, biomechanics oriented. There’s an episode of the Shawn Ryan Show with him that’s really good (once you get past the first 45 minutes or so of plant medicine talk lol). Outside of the Magpul Dynamics videos, he was very famous for the “rooftop video.” Working as a sniper for blackwater in 04, his team got pinned down in Najaf during the largest Iraqi offensive of the war. And he and his buddy filmed it while he picked off over 100 enemy combatants that day.

I actually reached out to them asking if they offered industry discounts because I was looking for some new kit and they make some of the best chest rigs on the market. Got to talking with their sales guy, exchanged industry discounts program info and saw the Scottsdale address. Turned out I was gonna be in Scottsdale the following week so I mentioned that and he said come on by. They have a small storefront attached to their HQ. Went by and got a full tour of the facility, got to chat with Travis himself for a bit (super cool dude), got to see the manufacturing operation, all the cool behind the scenes stuff, the gun vault (HO. LEE. CHIT.) It was awesome. Buncha great dudes and were happy to answer all my ignorant ass questions. Though I suppose me offering up a pretty discount on our products as well definitely didn’t hurt

 

I compete with an Athena and like it a lot. I don’t have any experience with the Titan but am interested in trying one if the opportunity presents itself.

Ben Stoeger has posted 10,000 round reviews for both the Athena and Titan on YouTube. He speaks highly of both and for his shooting style, stated he prefers the softer recoil impulse of the Titan over the Athena’s snappier feel. He does note that the lighter Athena transitions marginally faster.

My personal experience comparing the Athena to an MPA DS9 I find the recoil impulse to be a little snappier however, as long as I grip the gun effectively, it’s return to zero characteristic is an advantage. Both the Athena and DS9 are excellent.

one thing I’ve learned about the Athena is if you’re going to shoot it, you need to pay attention to a few things… Check torque of the grip screws periodically, check free movement of the trigger over-travel screw periodically (it should not move without resistance. If it does, you’ll need to remove it and apply loctite), remove and clean the extractor channel periodically.

The reason to check the torque periodically is because CLP / Gun oil will breakdown the loctite allowing the screws to loosen over time. I check mine after every session as a preventative measure. It’s overkill, but I’d rather be ahead than behind.

Last point of note, Atlas is producing and shipping pistols to their dealers. They post availability on their website. The majority of these dealers have an online store allowing you to get your Atlas without waiting a year for “your” gun. If it’s available at a dealer, you can have it in days. A caveat to this is it most likely will come with standard Mags. Nothing wrong with them but if you plan to compete, you may want to purchase competition followers, springs, and basepads. If you buy an Apollo from a Dealer, you could send it to Atlas for a non-ported barrel and you’d wait far less than a year. If you don’t see the available guns on Atlas’ website, Gunbroker has most of the available Atlas pistols listed.

To add perspective, I’ve run 5,300 rounds through my Athena in 4 months.

Good luck with your decision.

 

Yeah...my Customer Service experiences with NightHawk and Atlas have been absolutely spectacular.

I think if you're looking to shoot IDPA with your Atlas, then the Nyx, EOS or Athena are your primary choices. A local club match may not mind a Titan. In fact, I know they don't cause Arundel Fish and Game didn't even check...but a true sanctioned match you're pistol will have to fit into
the IDPA spec/tech...which means it has to fit in a box they use as a check for eligibility. I'm not up on my rules that much yet..but I'm taking the SO class soon...so I'll know more specifics after that.

No matter what, you will NOT go wrong with an Atlas pistol.

My Athena was my first aquired Atlas via an order from my closest Atlas dealer, which also happens to be the place where I bought my Staccato's. We went through the options available to my preferences, and he placed the order. I gave him a deposit and paid him while I waited
when I had some disposable leftover cash. I ordered mine that way because I'm a Veteran and Atlas has a Vet discount program that gives Vets 8 percent off everything for life. So, I waited, but I got my trigger size/weight, safeties of choice, grip panels of choice, optics plate I wanted, etc. It was worth it.

Then I kind of lucked into the Ares blemished model...right time, right place and saved almost 2K on the price for a flaw you won't see unless I point it out to you.

Found SMP in Chelsea, AL just surfing the web one day. One of those sites I like to "window shop"...and all of a sudden their Atlas section had a Titan listed. Mitzi and I met on the phone and email and I made that one mine.
I think the stuff that makes it to the web site and her GunBroker account listings are the ones that come in and aren't already claimed before they arrive. They have a standing order with Atlas and NightHawk, so stuff comes in all the time.
They've been great to deal with and their prices are fair. They don't apply markups.

IF you can only have one Atlas....Athena. It will do everything VERY well. It's the one I grab the most often.

 

Took some photos to catalog the collection in the event I ever need it for an insurance claim. Figured this group may enjoy the results. Will start with the modern long guns.

LMT MARS-H in 6.5CM, Vortex Razor 3-18, KAC 762 suppressor, Atlas bipod
Mostly Geissele frankenstein, Criterion 18" barrel, Eotech Vudu 2.5-10, B5 precision stock, Magpul bipod
Mk12 Mod 1 upper on a KAC lower, Nightforce NXS 2-10, Trijicon RMR top dot, KAC Mk12 adjustable match trigger, Eotech CNVD SU-232 Thermal, AEM5 suppressor, Harris bipod
FN SCAR17S, Geissele trigger, barrel chop w/ p&w Surefire Warcomp, , offset Trijicon RCR, empty Badger COMM in between primary optics (for the 3rd or 4th time, already lost count)
KAC SR-15 14.5" upper on LMT MARS-L lower, KAC 556 suppressor w/ Burn Proof cover, Nightforce ATACR 1-8, Aimpoint Acro top dot, KAC trigger, Geissele Super 42 spring, Modlite PLHv2 w/ Surefire tape switch & dual tailcap
KAC SR-30, Surefire 762 Mini (soon to be SF 300SPS), Eotech EXPS 3-0 & G33 magnifier, SBA3 brace
Benelli M1014, 7 round tube, Midwest rail, Surefire scout light on a KDG QD mount
Colt M4 upper on a S&W-Magpul collab forged lower, Aimpoint CompM3 on a gooseneck mount
Colt DOE trade-in monolithic piston 16" AR-15

 

Older or at least older style long guns

1892 Springfield 1884 trap door .45-70
1906 Winchester 1897 Trench gun conversion
1930 Winchester 1897
1918 Mauser K98
1942 Springfield M1 Garand
Winchester Model 37
Stevens Model 58
Marlin Model 60
Ruger American Rimfire w/ Vortex Diamondback 6-24
1982 Heckler & Kock HK91
Marlin 1895 SBL, Aimpoint T2 on a Scalarworks LEAP mount, Ranger Point rail & handstop

 

Handguns

Top-down, then Left-Right
Beretta 92XI Corsa
Beretta M9A4 Centurion
Colt Series 80 Mk IV 1911
Smith & Wesson Model 41
CZ 75 Tactical Sport 2 Orange
CZ 75 SP-01 Custom
CZ 75 Shadow 2 Compact
Smith & Wesson Police .38Spl
Bond Arms Defender
HK USP9 Expert
HK USP9 Tactical ODG
HK VP9, Trijicon RMR, Surefire X300
Hi-Standard .22
Raven .25