Actually, they tried the weapon without it. Early M16s (USAF, Project AGILE stuff from '59-'63) lacked the forward assist. Some of these weapons were used by US advisors in Vietnam. When a need for a way to manually close the bolt was discovered, the forward assist was added starting with model 604. Stoner didn't go to war with the weapon; while he came up with a unique operating system, he's probably not the best source of information on what other features are necessary on a fighting carbine.
Most useless feature on an AR15.
- Thread starter mattw
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Stoner also didn't hunt with it.
I do.
Evolution is often a good thing.
For instance, back in the late 80s/ early 90s, I though that flattop AR's looked odd. My first AR had a carry handle. I would probably never own one now.
-- John
notorious
Member
Why can't people just leave people alone with their toys? It's not your money and it's not your possession so why does it matter to you?
notorious
Member
<wriggle right index finger>
This here is my safety, sir!
BeltfedMG
member
A selector switch that only has 2 settings....SAFE SEMI
Thats the most useless feature on a AR15.
I WIN!
Thats the most useless feature on a AR15.
I WIN!
1KPerDay
Member
Haven't been around the Internet long, have you? We gotta have something to argue about...
notorious
Member
My AR does not have a bayonet lug because the powers that be in Sacramento decided we cannot be trusted with a rifle that can fire a 55 grain bullet at 4000fps AND have a knife mounted in the front.
However, my Mosin M44, M91/30 and Steyr M95 all have bayonets either affixed or lugged to accept it.
I have found great uses for them in the field such as being able to stick it in the ground to keep the rifle off the ground. I also love charging paper targets at the range after I am done punching paper in them. Why let a good piece of paper go to waste?
expvideo
Member
You all need to lighten up. So we're teasing each other. Big deal. It's all in good fun, stop taking yourself so seriously. The point of this thread seems to be a "defend your nifty accessories while you make fun of other peoples'" kind of thread, and the point isn't to take it super-duper seriously, but to just enjoy teasing other AR15 owners, and to do that thing we all love to do. Justify our "need" for all of our toys. So lighten up. Enjoy the thread or go hang out in "legal" where people like to be super serious.
Which reminds me, I forgot to mention:
-receivers with HK style pictograms
-full auto selector markings on semi-only weapons
notorious
Member
Okay, I hate the 3x or 5x magnifiers behind the red dot. I also hate the 3 lights and 2 lasers and 1 IR designator. Then there's the flip-up battle sight on a gun with $2,000 worth of optics which are all in the way. But that's just me.
punkndisorderly
Member
The one I don't get are the zillion parts with "secret" compartments for batteries or 2 or 3 extra rounds.
The full auto markings on a semi auto reciever just for looks.
The full auto markings on a semi auto reciever just for looks.
notorious
Member
The battery compartment is handy for carrying batteries for my television remote. When you're settled in nicely on your couch with your AR in your lap watching Monday night football, the last thing you want to do is to have to get up and search for batteries when you're clicking through stations on commercial break.
The extra rounds come in handy on the range when you have those contests where you get 5 rounds to put in a bullseye target or something. When they shoot, you sneak in some more rounds so you get 8 shots instead of 5, in case you toss a few or have a flyer.
The extra compartments for batteries are nice when you have a light on the rifle. If you don't have one, they're kinda useless. I suppose you could put weights in them if you wanted to balance out the rifle, or maybe a cleaning kit or some spare parts, if you can make them fit.
I don't get the extra rounds compartments. If you're in a situation where you need to open up a trapdoor and pull out loose round or two, I highly doubt those last few rounds will matter. I do like the Magpul MIAD insert for spare bolt and firing pin, since both of those can break and your rifle is a very flimsy club until you replace them.
I bet that back when they first put trap doors on musket stocks, the old timers at the Public House called it "Ye Olde Tacticrap" and muttered over their mead that it was a passing fad.
Mike
I don't get the extra rounds compartments. If you're in a situation where you need to open up a trapdoor and pull out loose round or two, I highly doubt those last few rounds will matter. I do like the Magpul MIAD insert for spare bolt and firing pin, since both of those can break and your rifle is a very flimsy club until you replace them.
I bet that back when they first put trap doors on musket stocks, the old timers at the Public House called it "Ye Olde Tacticrap" and muttered over their mead that it was a passing fad.
Mike
i switch between two inserts in my MIAD grip compartment:
1. a 1oz bottle of machine gunner lube
2. 3 rounds
Those 3 rounds aren't more of the same. My mags are full of 55g FMJ and the 3 rounds are my 80g SMK handloads that I shoot in HP from the 600 yrd line.
The only time I use that insert would be if I think I might want to make one relatively precise shot, which is almost never. I keep the lube in there almost always.
"Ye Olde Tacticrap"
heh, good one
1. a 1oz bottle of machine gunner lube
2. 3 rounds
Those 3 rounds aren't more of the same. My mags are full of 55g FMJ and the 3 rounds are my 80g SMK handloads that I shoot in HP from the 600 yrd line.
The only time I use that insert would be if I think I might want to make one relatively precise shot, which is almost never. I keep the lube in there almost always.
"Ye Olde Tacticrap"
heh, good one
expvideo
Member
hmmm. I've never heard it justified like that. Interesting point. I've heard "tracer rounds" before, but I can't think of too many situations where you would need a tracer round in a pinch.
If you were Jack Bauer, you could put a blank, a tracer and an explosive bullet in there. The blank would be for when you pretended to shoot someone to trick the bad guys, the tracer could be for signalling your position to a CTU helicopter, and the explosive bullet would be for shooting a vehicle's gas tank and causing a giant explosion.
For those of us stuck in the real world, I think that taliv's example is pretty much the only one that makes any sense for why to carry 3 rounds in the grip.
heh, well, when i first got the MIAD years ago (actually a pre-production version) i was obsessed with incendiary rounds and I admit I put a couple blue tips in there for a few days before realizing how ridiculous that was
btw, that "one relatively precise shot"... you never know when a wee wager might turn up in the field over what targets you can hit and what targets you can't.
btw, that "one relatively precise shot"... you never know when a wee wager might turn up in the field over what targets you can hit and what targets you can't.
MT GUNNY
Member
I'm shure Some one has said it already but Deserves being said again; "the Beauty of the AR is the Fact, If you don't like something, then Change it"..
My objection is the ugliness of the standard Gas block, buy using my statement above I replaced it.
My objection is the ugliness of the standard Gas block, buy using my statement above I replaced it.
I get a kick out of BUIS systems. Honestly if you wave to worry about your fancy red dot site failing then maybe a non electronic sight is needed, just a thought. But again im not a big tactical guy, im more of stand from afar and let the 30-06 do the talking.
The red dot is markedly superior to iron sights at fast shooting. That's just all there is to it, assuming you have trained adequately with both irons and red dots. Having a red dot is a massive advantage if you're doing combat style shooting. The trigger monkeys in the army and marine corps are not spending their own money (in many cases) to put Aimpoints on their rifles because its a fashion statement. They work better than iron sights. However, they have a downside. They can break and the batteries can go dead. Easily addressed with BUIS and some PM.
I actually take the exact opposite POV. Unless the rifle is a range toy (and there's nothing wrong with range toys, I own many), I have to wonder about people who have a red dot or other optic without BUIS. Even if you just use it for hunting, if your optic goes down and you have no back-up irons, there's not much to do besides schlep back to the truck and go home.
Mike
I actually take the exact opposite POV. Unless the rifle is a range toy (and there's nothing wrong with range toys, I own many), I have to wonder about people who have a red dot or other optic without BUIS. Even if you just use it for hunting, if your optic goes down and you have no back-up irons, there's not much to do besides schlep back to the truck and go home.
Mike
Im to much of an older style then because I say if you cant trust it 100% it has no business on a rifle that you trust with your life. That said I soot just as well with a small 4x scope with see through rings. But again Red dotes are nice but I distrust anything with batteries on a gun that my life could depend on. But hey its my 2 cents and im entitled to it as you are yours.
Oh, you certainly are. We can agree to disagree.
My POV is that you still have that 100% reliability of iron sights and you have the ease of use of red dots if you combine a quality red dot with a quality BUIS. The only time you have a problem is during the moment between recognizing that your optic is Tango Uniform and switching to the irons.
Mike
My POV is that you still have that 100% reliability of iron sights and you have the ease of use of red dots if you combine a quality red dot with a quality BUIS. The only time you have a problem is during the moment between recognizing that your optic is Tango Uniform and switching to the irons.
Mike
pgeleven
Member
a bunch of us bought the CAA M4 buttstock that featured the little compartment that carried 4 extra surefire batteries. every one of us noticed that once we got done wiht a patrol, the batteries were never there. damn thing couldnt keep a secure lock and they would fall right out on the ground. IMHO they are useless.
i think the worst thing that you could put on an AR is what we dubbed the 'suicide mag'.
with this cool and clever item on your stock you have to fully extend the buttstock in order to charge it because it blocks the charging handle from coming back more than even 2 inches. a lot of guys would flounder with this during firefights and it costs valuable reload time which can make you dead quick. therefore it earned the name 'suicide mag'. many guys bought this and were just as quick to throw it away. cool at the range, but not so much when you need your rifle to function properly in a hurry
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