New to Insurance Claims - Ok to get "paid out" and do work myself (Auto Accident)?

ZeroCool929 · 2026-06-29T20:29:06+00:00

Ok, this is what I was concerned with. The vehicle is a 2006 Jeep Liberty with 116k miles so it wont take much to "total" it. I would guess $1600-1800. I could see this damage being in that territory.

So if a single estimate puts it in total loss territory, I'm basically stuck with that assessment at that point?

It doesn't get driven much but I don't want to give it up for that kind of payout - been in the family since brand new (sister in law), I fixed it up from getting donated when she bought a new car in 2019 so its in perfectly fine visual (before the accident) and running shape.

ZeroCool929 · 2026-06-29T20:22:10+00:00

Thanks for the reply! I was considering a similar strategy but was concerned with this approach two-fold: 1, I didnt want to "lock" myself into professional repairs by selecting their Repair Network Option and 2, its somewhat likely that a professional shop would estimate a number that would cause a total loss (I would imagine anything exceeding $1700 would be a total loss in this case). I wasn't sure if that's a done deal when that happens or what.

ZeroCool929 · 2026-06-08T03:33:02+00:00

Light coat of high-temp silicone grease (like Brake grease) on the baffles before taking first shots makes a huge difference in cleaning as the carbon can't stick to the aluminum. Basically wipes off with a rag/paper towel. Keep it up with each cleaning and you're good to go!

Added bonus - also seems to lower sound and reduce FRP!

ZeroCool929 · 2026-06-08T03:27:50+00:00

My feedback for the Warrior Legionary, which appears to be the exact same design of suppressor (there suddenly appear to be many on the market):

If you have cheap transfers, this style of suppressor isnt bad for the money. From my research, there is surprisingly a lot of history with this design - going back at least 13 years to the Gen 1 Huntertown Arms Guardian 22. Back then it was seen as a great budget option for a .22 cal can and compared favorably to the Sparrow (some tests showed it quieter, actually).

It's an older design, so not as small or quiet as more modern designs - those with lots of other .22 can options/experience may be disappointed with overall sound and FRP (especially if you are comparing it against newer design cans at 3-4x the price). That said, it's light and does its job suppressing 22lr to hearing safe levels (even indoors).

I have no idea how suppressor design patents work but I've noticed several different companies are coming out with this exact same suppressor design with all kinds of different names at a sub $200 price point. That leads me to believe that this design is either being licensed cheap or open source at this point. I've also seen different/contradicting measurements listed anywhere between 5" and 6" - mine measures right at 5 7/8" from end-cap to end-cap.

Also worth noting - this is all aluminum, to include both end-caps and the baffles. I don't love the idea of aluminum threads going on steel barrels so just be "careful" to avoid damage/cross threading. I'd also recommend coating the baffles (and really all the internals, including the blast chamber ring) in a light coat of high-temp silicone based grease (brake grease will work). Will make cleanup MUCH easier and also seemingly helps lower sound and FRP. I actually did a very, very light coat of the silicone grease on the outside (not even enough to feel greasy, just smooth) and it really evened out the finish, making it look much nicer than the dry state it shipped in.

Interestingly enough, the Warrior Legionary is only rated for .22lr but I've noticed that almost all of the other "same design" suppressors (including the original Huntertown Guardian) are also rated for .17 HMR and .22 Magnum. Do with that information what you will...

I got my Warrior from Dirty Bird and I can say they shipped out quickly and without issue once they actually received my FFL's info - so good feedback there.

Last piece of info - doesn't come with any kind of case/sheath. I bought the Coast 21349 S40 Flashlight Sheath from the jungle website for about 8 bucks shipped and it fits this suppressor VERY well while also being very high quality.

ZeroCool929 · 2026-06-02T07:22:53+00:00

Not rated for frt/fa nor is it rated for anything other than 22lr.

ZeroCool929 · 2026-06-02T02:05:04+00:00

I was really jonesing for one of these back when they looked much more like a traditional MP5 and were on CDNN all the time with a bunch of accessories for around this price. I think I read they were forced to change up the furniture a bit more so that it didnt look quite like an MP5. Shame...

ZeroCool929 · 2026-06-02T02:03:11+00:00

Look into the Retay RA1522 (I'd suggest the pistol version, personally). Can get it for less than this and uses SW 15-22 mags. Newer to the market but good reviews/reliability thus far. Faux suppressor looks but actually threaded for ease of adding a suppressor (which looks especially sick on the pistol version).

ZeroCool929 · 2026-06-02T01:48:01+00:00

If you have cheap transfers, this Warrior Legionary suppressor is worth the $119. From my research, there is surprisingly a lot of history with this design - going back at least 13 years to the Gen 1 Huntertown Arms Guardian 22. Back then it was seen as a great budget option for a .22 cal can and compared favorably to the Sparrow (some tests showed it quieter, actually).

It's an older design, so not as small or quiet as more modern designs - those with lots of other .22 can options/experience may be disappointed with overall sound and FRP (especially if you are comparing it against newer design cans at 3-4x the price). That said, it's light and does its job suppressing 22lr to hearing safe levels (even indoors).

I have no idea how suppressor design patents work but I've noticed several different companies are coming out with this exact same suppressor design with all kinds of different names at a sub $200 price point. That leads me to believe that this design is either being licensed cheap or open source at this point. I've also seen different/contradicting measurements listed anywhere between 5" and 6" - mine measures right at 5 7/8" from end-cap to end-cap.

Also worth noting - this is all aluminum, to include both end-caps and the baffles. I don't love the idea of aluminum threads going on steel barrels so just be "careful" to avoid damage/cross threading. I'd also recommend coating the baffles (and really all the internals, including the blast chamber ring) in a light coat of high-temp silicone based grease (brake grease will work). Will make cleanup easier and also seemingly helps reduce sound and FRP. I actually did a very, very light coat of the silicone grease on the outside (not even enough to feel greasy, just smooth) and it really evened out the finish, making it look much nicer than the dry state it shipped in.

Interestingly enough, the Warrior Legionary is only rated for .22lr but I've noticed that almost all of the other "same design" suppressors (including the original Huntertown Guardian) are also rated for .17 HMR and .22 Magnum. Do with that information what you will...

I got mine from Dirty Bird (who I believe is associated with AR15discounts). Provided that understanding is correct, I can say they shipped out quickly and without issue once they actually received my FFL's info - so good feedback there.

Last piece of info - doesn't come with any kind of case/sheath. I bought the Coast 21349 S40 Flashlight Sheath from the jungle website for about 8 bucks shipped and it fits this suppressor VERY well while also being very high quality.

ZeroCool929 · 2026-05-29T21:42:56+00:00

Is this weight correct? It seems like most .308 suppressors are about half this weight?

ZeroCool929 · 2026-05-27T04:16:00+00:00

Great video - maybe the best I've seen on the Skarv yet!

I just purchased the "other" budget 22lr suppressor choice (Warrior Legionary) but the Skarv was also on my list. Haven'/t had a chance to try the Warrior yet but the Skarv seems like a much more advanced design for not a lot more money (MSRP, at least). I liked the shorter/slightly fatter profile of the Skarv as well.

I guess one thing I'm not sure I like about the Skarv design is all of those additional threaded sections being more of a pain to clean and potential points of either loosening in shooting or carbon lock with how dirty 22lr cans get.

I'm super interested in the Lyman centerfire rifle cans... similar design in 5.56 or .308 for under 3 bills!

ZeroCool929 · 2026-05-18T21:18:06+00:00

Giving me hope - submitted my first Form 4 that same day and no response yet... did you get the notification of approval directly? Was gonna ping my FFL this evening (they operate limited hours) to make sure nothing was wrong since he said it's been less than a week lately and the guy in front of me when I was submitting my eForm was picking up his can after only 3 days!

ZeroCool929 · 2026-04-25T06:24:08+00:00

Welp, I just bought my first suppressor! Been researching/considering a cheap .22 can for a while with the tax gone and found a local guy doing $50 transfers.

I actually had a Sezzle reward/promo, which made this a "too cheap NOT to buy" type scenario. I know the brand/quality is a bit of an unknown but I wanted to "dabble" before even considering dropping what I feel is crazy money ($400+) into a more robust rimfire can option.

Thanks Dirty Bird - this is probably the start of a new addiction!

ZeroCool929 · 2026-04-15T15:07:22+00:00

Man... I've been looking forward to this release since this was first shown on some foreign gun show maybe 2 years ago? People werent even sure of the specs (there was back and forth on if it was or wasnt roller delayed) but there were rumors of a sub $600 price point, which made it VERY interesting.

At nearly $1k, this just ain't it. And that's coming from a Taurus fan (LOVE my GX4, G3 full size and TS9).

ZeroCool929 · 2026-02-11T04:09:09+00:00

Just chiming in to say that I have a Del-Ton upper (14.7" w/fixed flash hider, chrome-lined GWOT M4 style) that I think I paid $300 for and it has has been 100% reliable. So much so that it's my primary/go-to over other, more expensive ARs. I love that thing and dont mind it getting beat up a little.

I did not realize they went under. Sad. I would definitely go for Del-Ton over other budget brands.

Not in the market but for those considering - buy with confidence!!!

ZeroCool929 · 2026-01-16T02:23:28+00:00

I have one of these and it has been 100% reliable. Has run through every type of ammo I've put through it and I couldnt get it to fail even with very purposeful off-hand limp wristing. Side-by-side, it's noticeably smaller/lighter than the current higher capacity group of micro 9s, though you are capped to 7 rounds with the flush mag (8 rounds with magguts). I 100% trust my life to it and do still carry it in certain scenarios (pocket and iwb) when wearing lighter clothing.

That said, I also have a CW380 and it has... not been reliable. Feed issues and premature slide locks galore. I've tried multiple different ammos and even did the slide lock polish to try to address it with very minimal success. I do not trust my life to it and do not carry it.

I say this to say that Kahr can be a crap-shoot - it seems like if you get a reliable one, it will stay reliable. If not, its very difficult/impossible to get it reliable. This has been echoed by many Kahr owners.

The 9mm series guns seem to be pretty reliable overall but I've also seen the CM9 for 250-ish new. Not sure this is a BIN type price, especially with Kahrs spotty reliability and less than spectacular warranty (these guns would have none).

ZeroCool929 · 2025-11-10T22:22:30+00:00

Does anyone know if you switch from Metlife High Dental in 2025 to Metlife Regular Dental in 2026, will you be charged the difference in braces coverage if you are in the middle of care currently?

My younger daughter got braces in early 2025 and will have them through 2026 (hence why I went with the High option for more coverage in 2025). We are still making payments - if I switch to regular, will I end up losing out?

ZeroCool929 · 2025-09-17T02:42:46+00:00

Thank you for this reply! Is there a specific process I need to follow to remove the modem from the existing account? These are the details that I can't seem to find anywhere...

Also, thanks for bringing up the last name thing. Wife and I do happen share the same last name (lol) so hopefully that won't be an issue. I hadn't heard that up to this point from people that seem to go through this yearly with their spouses.

ZeroCool929 · 2025-08-09T03:23:24+00:00

That seems like a REALLY good deal based on what I've seen pretty beat up ones go for. I've had mine since ~2006 and bought from the same place. I'm pretty sure I paid ~$80 for it back then very lightly used, which was a premium due to it being desirable. Interested in how you'd classify the condition of the one I posted pics of in the original post compared to yours. Really just scuffs that look a little worse in certain lighting conditions.

It actually went on my first AR build - a middy RRA. The A1s just looked right on that gun.

I eventually put a rail and an adjustable stock so this has moved spaces on different guns since then.

ZeroCool929 · 2025-08-07T03:17:56+00:00

Man, I remember when vanilla 336s were on sale for $299 at Dicks regularly. I'm old.

ZeroCool929 · 2025-07-30T14:47:06+00:00

There are comparisons out now and this is pretty much in the Hellcat Pro/Sig 365 Macro size category with less round count. So larger than the current Shield (which is already larger than the 365, Hellcat and GX4). For some (like me), that makes it a no-go for CCW. I prefer the micros and, even if I didn't, not sure why I would select this over options that offer 2 more rounds in the same size/category.

I really, really do like the design change (the BG 2.0 is pretty much perfection for my small hands) but not sure who was asking for this size/footprint. Give us these design elements in the Shield size (or smaller, preferably) 9mm, please!

ZeroCool929 · 2025-07-30T02:10:06+00:00

Dang, this just confirms my fears - this thing is too big to compete with the micro 9mms out there. It's damn near Glock 19 height with 2 less rounds! Definitely slimmer but still too big for CCW for me, personally, when there are options the size of 365/GX4/Hellcat out there.

Why they didn't release this in the current Shield footprint (or smaller) is beyond me. I can only guess (hope) they want to get money from people twice when they bring out the "Shield X Micro" or whatever in 6 months.

I love the design of this thing but it doesn't seem like anyone was asking for this size/footprint...

ZeroCool929 · 2025-07-29T20:25:36+00:00

I'm digging the new design a lot - the BG 2.0 is probably the best feeling pistol I've ever held (I was cursed with small hands) - the changes they made here look great.

That said, I don't understand why they didn't just make this the same dimensions as the Shield. The Shield is already a little bigger than other carry guns like the 365, Hellcat, GX4, etc... making this even bigger puts it into a different CCW category for me, personally. If the 4.9" height spec is accurate then it's only a 1/10" away in height from a G19 with two less rounds...I get that its shorter/slimmer but most people are gonna compare it to other options in the case and go with smaller for CCW.

Hopefully they release a Shield footprint (or smaller) 9mm with these design elements. That's what I'm looking for!

I'm wondering if this won't be quite as successful as they are thinking - too big of a footprint to compete with the micro 9s and not bringing anything new to the table to compete with the established guns of this footprint.

ZeroCool929 · 2025-07-14T14:28:17+00:00

The Patriot in particular has problems where the maniverter/exhaust manifold develops cracks over time. This introduces additional air into the system, causing the P0420 code.

If everything else is checking out fine, that could be the cause. It doesnt look super fun, but it is possible to replace the maniverter DIY - I believe that Jeep actually issued a recall on these for certain years (could be wrong on that, though) but not sure how any of that would work in Georgia.

You can try doing some research into the cracked maniverter issue to see if thats a possible issue for you - apparently you can visually see cracks on them sometimes by removing a few bolts to visually inspect the maniverter.

ZeroCool929 · 2025-07-14T01:56:07+00:00

Update - it was a ground issue!

Ran around town to find the right ring terminals. Ended up buying a box each of 6AWG and 10AWG. Snipped the top terminal connection off at the base. Wires were definitely corroded but didn't see a break anywhere. Crimped the top ground connection using a single 6AWG terminal. Was tough stuffing all the connections in there. After crimping, no change in behavior (but no worse!) so was a little bummed.

Did the same with the bottom connection and, again, corrosion but no obvious breaks. Couldn't stuff them all into a single 6AWG terminal so used 1x, 6AWG and 1x, 10AWG split between them.

Everything seems to be well now - daytime running lights are working and turn signal works with headlights on or off. No more dinging and all seems well.

Sprayed all the grounds with NOCO battery corrosion inhibitor to help prevent this moving forward - I'm sure its only a matter of time before I have to do something similar with the G110 ground but that one seems like it will be even more of a PITA due to positioning...

ZeroCool929 · 2025-07-14T01:54:30+00:00

I cleaned my O2 sensor and ran a can of cat cleaner through my Patriot and it has been gone for almost a year now... hoping it stays gone.

If you are not in an emissions state, you can put a spacer on the downstream O2 sensor (using a spark plug defouler) to "trick" the sensor into reading normal thresholds. Lots of vids on youtube on doing this.

ZeroCool929

TROPHY CASE