What I like most about AR's?
An upper is Not a gun.
(for the time being)
An upper is Not a gun.
(for the time being)
Things I hate and love about AR15 platform
- Thread starter David Milisock
- Start date
Larry Koch
Silver $$ Contributor
Dear David, get yourself a lathe, turn your own barrels and be done with the Ar15 except for unrest.
bpd459
Gold $$ Contributor
I carried a pre M-4 (USAF GAU-5) for 6 years in the military and AR carbines for my 30yr LE career. Shot High Power, with both a service rifle and Spaceguns. I have shot close to 300 coyotes and probably 10,000 prairie dogs and ground squirrels with an AR. I have safes full of fancy bolt guns. But, if I’m grabbing a rifle to shoot, it’s one of my AR’s.
I set my friend (a liberal non shooter) a picture of a complete upper and told him that by law this was not a gun. I then sent a picture of a completed lower and told him that by law this was a gun.
He had a good laugh!
I have ZERO desire to take up gun smithing/rifle building, I do high end (archival quality) image editing, photography, shooting and reloading. In my opinion along with family responsibilities I believe that's enough.
I have 4 custom bolts, 2 varmint and 2 heavies and multiple standard field grade bolts and lever rifles, they all have their specialized use.
My real general purpose rifles are AR15's. Both of mine are very accurate, incredibly reliable and all I need for varminting out to 500 yards, medium game to 200 yards and self defense.
I hate the marketing but love the rifles.
Over 30 years ago my Colt Hbar A2 was and still is so accurate and reliable it caused me significant concern when I was researching my next AR purchase. Luckily it worked out and I believe it was as much luck as it was the research.
Like you I'll stick with my AR's, in fact due to the handling characteristics I love them with iron sights more then when scoped.
I feel like the longevity of an AR-15 in 6ARC is still unproven but is coming along pretty fast.
I've and AR10 and AR15s, I like them both, but the AR10 is too heavy, and the AT15 (most) are chambered with a cartridge that is too small. I want an AR 12.5. I want a lighter gun than a 10 and a more powerful gun than a 223 AR15. I know there are 15s more powerful than 223, the bolt diameter seems too small too me for much more power. While I am inventing I want to take the laser guided bomb mechanism that makes a bomb go in a specific window to land a fighter jet on an aircraft carrier by setting the laser on the deck in the right place and have the plane follow the beam to land the plane safely when the pilot is tried, injured, or amped up from adrenalin.
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LVLAaron
Gold $$ Contributor
JP Silent Captured Spring. Problem solved.
I would agree that it will take many years to prove the battle field durability of the AR15 in 6MM ARC. The DOD is not releasing any data on the units acquired by them.
Shooting factory ammo seems no issue and reloading obviously needs to be carefully done.
With all the above said at 69 years old I feel my days of combat participation are limited.
I know there's a remedy for the twang of the spring. It's annoying but it's not that annoying, smaller than head shot 300 hundred yard group sizes more than makes up for the twang. Hell some times my wife's annoying but I've kept her for 50 years.
bluealtered
Silver $$ Contributor
The cure for the in between AR12.5, is for me the 6.8spc II. Yes Remington screwed it up, however with the 11 or 11.5 twist barrel I was able to do a 7 of 9 touching group at 100yds the first time out with one I put together from parts.
The two flyers were on me. That upper got away from me and after moving around a few hundred rounds of reloaded 6.8 from place to place for many years I finally just broke down and got a PSA 6.8spc upper, it was cheap and it does moa or better when I still can.
That ammo I loaded up in 2010 still shoots good and that beats the heck out sitting there pulling those bullets apart.
The two flyers were on me. That upper got away from me and after moving around a few hundred rounds of reloaded 6.8 from place to place for many years I finally just broke down and got a PSA 6.8spc upper, it was cheap and it does moa or better when I still can.
That ammo I loaded up in 2010 still shoots good and that beats the heck out sitting there pulling those bullets apart.
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You are most likely right, The 6.8 bullet doesn't set well with me, I am a 6.5 guy and a 6.5spc would most likely be a very good answer to the problem. Maybe even a Grendel that was an 1/8 or 3/16s longer but it would not fit the mag well. that is the reason for an AR12.5 or an AR17 or what ever Eugene would have called it.
As the primary firearms instructor I was constantly asked about putting all sorts of stuff on our M4s. I called them fashion accessories for guns. I told our people to learn to shoot better with the irons or the Eotech/Trijicon scope if it had one, don't worry about what the "cool" kids are using.
Of the many reasons people own guns, I seldom see them referenced as a tool to achieve an objective. My guns are exactly that. To expand my skills, hunting, entertainment, and self defense. In these days of CNC machines, some manufacturers are putting out some amazing guns for under $1k. One of my AR's, an IWI Zion with a 12.5 barrel was $899.00 and never ceases to amaze me what a tack driver this is at 200 yards. My brothers Black Rain is the same. Those producing aftermarket parts are good for the industry as a whole because some of them will try/do something different and it catches on.
To me, in the end, it's not about how much you spent on your weapon, it's what you can do with it when shooting. That's where the rubber meets the road.
To me, in the end, it's not about how much you spent on your weapon, it's what you can do with it when shooting. That's where the rubber meets the road.
I like the 6.8spc. I was introduced to it by 5spd. He has a nice rig and the performance is very good.
I also like the PSA upper and have considered it, but like I mentioned I'm not much on gas guns these days but what the hey.....may have to get one.
Having been weened on the M-16 and M-60, an AR seemed like a familiar friend, so I built some. All of my 5.56 builds used mil-spec parts and turned out well. No fancy drop-in triggers or lightened springs. Triggers all break cleanly around 4.25 pounds. Each one performs better than any M-16 I ever fired.
Decided to do a 10.5" pistol in 9mm just for fun. It turned out so well that it is now a home defense gun. Had to upgrade a few components to get things right because of the blow-back operation. It is 90% mil-spec parts.
Haven't ventured into other calibers primarily because ammo prices went crazy and I am on a fixed income, but I take comfort in the knowledge that in most cases, and upper and mag swap is all that is needed.
Building them gave me a personal knowledge of each one as I fitted parts in them. No detail was overlooked in their construction and I am confident in both their reliability, and accuracy.
In the process of putting these tools together, some parts were found to be out of spec, and were culled. You have to look at everything as there are lots misrepresentations these days. If it sounds too good to be true,... well you all know the way it goes.
To get a good AR rifle, there is no need to spend a small fortune. Most lower price point offerings are more than adequate for most shooters. Being modular, upgrades are available and constantly evolving for the platform.
Cons: Spring noise on recoil comes to mind, but is minimal if a little grease is used.
In general, I love the AR platform. Safe, reliable, easy to service.
Decided to do a 10.5" pistol in 9mm just for fun. It turned out so well that it is now a home defense gun. Had to upgrade a few components to get things right because of the blow-back operation. It is 90% mil-spec parts.
Haven't ventured into other calibers primarily because ammo prices went crazy and I am on a fixed income, but I take comfort in the knowledge that in most cases, and upper and mag swap is all that is needed.
Building them gave me a personal knowledge of each one as I fitted parts in them. No detail was overlooked in their construction and I am confident in both their reliability, and accuracy.
In the process of putting these tools together, some parts were found to be out of spec, and were culled. You have to look at everything as there are lots misrepresentations these days. If it sounds too good to be true,... well you all know the way it goes.
To get a good AR rifle, there is no need to spend a small fortune. Most lower price point offerings are more than adequate for most shooters. Being modular, upgrades are available and constantly evolving for the platform.
Cons: Spring noise on recoil comes to mind, but is minimal if a little grease is used.
In general, I love the AR platform. Safe, reliable, easy to service.
Coyotefurharvester
Silver $$ Contributor
A con(for me) is the inconsistent quality of magazines, and the many small problems that go with feed issues. And triggers, why can't I have a 2.5 # trigger for less than 50.00.
The Larue MBT-2S is pretty good for $120. They were $79 before inflation hit.
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