gotboostvr
Member
Here's what a 15" rail on a 16" barrel looks like:
Really gets all the way out to the end of the barrel, just the muzzle device peeking out.
PSA AR 15 lower - what's next?
- Thread starter Charlie Martinez
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Here's what a 15" rail on a 16" barrel looks like:
Really gets all the way out to the end of the barrel, just the muzzle device peeking out.
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Charlie Martinez
Member
Here's what a 15" rail on a 16" barrel looks like:
That's what I ended up with. I like it fine.
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Charlie Martinez
Member
d2wings said: Since an SKS is longer, heavier and not full auto among other things an odd choice for a tanker. But some of my friends did have captured weapons.[/QUOTE]
My buddy came by yesterday to look over my new AR. I ended up with something a bit different from the traditional look I originally wanted but after adding up added costs for magazines. ammo& sights (more on them later) i had to cut back on other items. I happy with my new rifle which ended up like this:
1. PSA lower
2. BCA upper; 16" Parkerized 5.56 NATO with 1:8 twist barrel, 15" MLOK
My buddy brought me a set of fold down sights he wasn't using and mounted them on for me. They are really good and pick up a target very quickly. He also brought me a 30-round magazine with 20 rounds so I could go to the range and try things out this weekend.
I ordered 3-10 round magazines initially but will probably get a couple of 20 or 30 rounders later. Also bought 600 rounds of 5.56 NATO, 62 grain rounds that will probably arrive in a week or so.
So there it is. I will report on how it all works after I return from the range later this week.
In response to d2wings very interesting question: I spoke to him briefly about his choice of weapon (an SKS) as a member of a tank crew. Although he doesn't volunteer a lot of stuff about his time in Vietnam I love to BS with him about it and he obliges me with a story here and there. He is an unusual character (in very good ways). His grandfather was a Korean vet and his dad was career Army that fought and died in action in the early days of the Vietnam conflict. When my friend came of age he enlisted in the Army and he too fought in Vietnam in an M38 tank crew in 1970. I asked him about his preference for the SKS in spite of shortcomings mentioned earlier by d2wing. He told me that the standard issue gun for tanker crews were M3 grease guns. He said they worked OK but he didn't like them (did not say why) so as soon as he was able to pick up an SKS for his personal weapon he did. That was it, end of story.
My buddy came by yesterday to look over my new AR. I ended up with something a bit different from the traditional look I originally wanted but after adding up added costs for magazines. ammo& sights (more on them later) i had to cut back on other items. I happy with my new rifle which ended up like this:
1. PSA lower
2. BCA upper; 16" Parkerized 5.56 NATO with 1:8 twist barrel, 15" MLOK
My buddy brought me a set of fold down sights he wasn't using and mounted them on for me. They are really good and pick up a target very quickly. He also brought me a 30-round magazine with 20 rounds so I could go to the range and try things out this weekend.
I ordered 3-10 round magazines initially but will probably get a couple of 20 or 30 rounders later. Also bought 600 rounds of 5.56 NATO, 62 grain rounds that will probably arrive in a week or so.
So there it is. I will report on how it all works after I return from the range later this week.
In response to d2wings very interesting question: I spoke to him briefly about his choice of weapon (an SKS) as a member of a tank crew. Although he doesn't volunteer a lot of stuff about his time in Vietnam I love to BS with him about it and he obliges me with a story here and there. He is an unusual character (in very good ways). His grandfather was a Korean vet and his dad was career Army that fought and died in action in the early days of the Vietnam conflict. When my friend came of age he enlisted in the Army and he too fought in Vietnam in an M38 tank crew in 1970. I asked him about his preference for the SKS in spite of shortcomings mentioned earlier by d2wing. He told me that the standard issue gun for tanker crews were M3 grease guns. He said they worked OK but he didn't like them (did not say why) so as soon as he was able to pick up an SKS for his personal weapon he did. That was it, end of story.
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Charlie Martinez
Member
I got so carried away with my earlier post I forgot to ask about a couple of items:
1. It appears that the safety will not engage unless the gun is cocked. Is this normal?
2. The stock is adjustable but feels a bit short for me . I'm not a particularly big guy, is this the way an AR stock is supposed to fit?
1. It appears that the safety will not engage unless the gun is cocked. Is this normal?
2. The stock is adjustable but feels a bit short for me . I'm not a particularly big guy, is this the way an AR stock is supposed to fit?
sarduy
Member
Yes, that's normal, and the stock should be the distance from your grip to the bend of the inside of the elbow.
I'm happy that you got your rifle.. any pics?
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Charlie Martinez
Member
Thank you, I'm happy I finally got into one also. I will try to post a couple of photos tomorrow.
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Charlie Martinez
Member
Another little detail I have noticed is that my safety lever is on the left side of the gun. I am a right hand shooter and find that it is easier and more natural for me to reach it if it were on the right side of the receiver.
Thoughts on this?
Thoughts on this?
Use your right thumb. That way you don't have to break your shooting grip with either hand.
ETA: I just reread my reply and it sounds a bit terse to me so I'll clarify.
For a right hand shooter such as yourself, the safety levers and magazine releases on AR-15s are meant to be manipulated with, respectively, the thumb and index finger of the right hand while holding the pistol grip in the right hand.
This allows the shooter to maintain a shooting grip and keep full control of the weapon while manipulating the controls. The only time you would need to remove your right hand from the grip is when manually locking the bolt to the rear unless you have freakishly large hands and can reach the bolt catch with you thumb while still holding the grip.
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As @zdc1775 stated, the M16 and AR15 are set up for right handed shooters as is. Now if you are use to push type safeties and this being your first AR, I can see where using the safety might feel awkward to you.
There are plenty of ambidextrous safeties available with the lever on both sides. One thing I will suggest on ambi safeties is to get one that you can change the lengths of the levers. I use an ambi safety due to shooting left hand. I find having a short lever on the same side as my trigger finger works best for me. The reason is that I am not extending my trigger finger over top the safety lever. I always found that to be a nuisance when shooting the M16A1/A2 while in the Army.
But everyone is different, so go with what works best for you. Just know that you do have choices.
Charlie98
Member
I was trained in the Army to shoot an AR with irons, by putting the tip of your nose on the rear of the charging handle. That gets you eye close to the rear aperature, where it needs to be, and allows you to exactly duplicate your sight picture every time. I'm 6'2" with monkey arms (and some would say, monkey brains, but I digress...) and the stock 6-position slider works fine for me when my nose is on the charging handle. If you just have to have more LOP, there are buttpads available that will add length to your stock.
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Charlie Martinez
Member
I guess I just need to learn how to handle it. I'm sure I can make it work for me w/o any modifications.
Charlie98
Member
Well... I mention the 'nose to the grindstone' part because it seems like a really odd thing to do, recoil being what it is... but once you shoot that way, it makes sense.
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Charlie Martinez
Member
I finally shot my new AR 15 yesterday and it was great! I only had 21 rounds of 55 grain given to me by my buddy but they all went through without a hitch. I shot everything at 25 yards since I had no idea where the sights were pointed. I have sighted other rifles with scopes and fully adjustable rear sights with less than 5 shots but theses sights were new (to me) and elevation adjustment has to be done in the front sight. Being my first time I made the idiotic mistake of raising the front sight to raise my shots. I wasted a few shots before I realized I was going in the wrong direction. I finally got inside the 10 ring for the last 3-4 shots.
The sights are not intended for precision shooting. The rear are fine. I can select between a ghost ring and a smaller opening for more precision but the front is just a big post. I am used to shooting a ring front sight with the peep. Putting the target inside the front ring is a lot easier (for me) than placing the top of the post & target in the center of the rear peep. I was almost convinced that I was going to need a scope until I saw the guy next to me shoot several sub 1 MOA groups with an AK-47 and a red dot sight. He let me try a couple of rounds with it and hitting the center of my target was a breeze. I'm going to need a little more range time to get used to my sights but that red dot is beginning to haunt me.
Bottom line I'm very impressed with the rifle's reliability right out of the box which I suspect is probably standard performance for any AR. The trigger is not target grade but not bad at all and the gun looks and feels great. My rifle is about the most inexpensive AR around and it works perfectly. I guess time and a lot more rounds may eventually reveal the difference between it and more expensive versions.
Now for the missing items:
1. I need a sling. There are several variants, not sure which is best for me. Suggestions are welcome.
2. Scope or Red dot? I already have a few scopes I can put on it; 1,5X fixed, 4X fixed, 2.5-7X variable, 3-9X variable. I am trending towards the 1.5X or the 2.5-7X because both are good quality and very compact but considering the red dot. Looking forward to comments & suggestions before mounting.
Happy Holidays & Best Wishes for 2023.
The sights are not intended for precision shooting. The rear are fine. I can select between a ghost ring and a smaller opening for more precision but the front is just a big post. I am used to shooting a ring front sight with the peep. Putting the target inside the front ring is a lot easier (for me) than placing the top of the post & target in the center of the rear peep. I was almost convinced that I was going to need a scope until I saw the guy next to me shoot several sub 1 MOA groups with an AK-47 and a red dot sight. He let me try a couple of rounds with it and hitting the center of my target was a breeze. I'm going to need a little more range time to get used to my sights but that red dot is beginning to haunt me.
Bottom line I'm very impressed with the rifle's reliability right out of the box which I suspect is probably standard performance for any AR. The trigger is not target grade but not bad at all and the gun looks and feels great. My rifle is about the most inexpensive AR around and it works perfectly. I guess time and a lot more rounds may eventually reveal the difference between it and more expensive versions.
Now for the missing items:
1. I need a sling. There are several variants, not sure which is best for me. Suggestions are welcome.
2. Scope or Red dot? I already have a few scopes I can put on it; 1,5X fixed, 4X fixed, 2.5-7X variable, 3-9X variable. I am trending towards the 1.5X or the 2.5-7X because both are good quality and very compact but considering the red dot. Looking forward to comments & suggestions before mounting.
Happy Holidays & Best Wishes for 2023.
The Sig MSR red dot is around $100 and is pretty decent.
Between a scope and red dot? Both.
I have a Sig Romeo5 on an ADM QD mount that can be swapped out for a scope with a QD mount on one of mine.
From what you have for scopes I would opt for the 2.5-7
Usable at low power for closer shots and plenty of upper magnification.
The Magpul MS1 is a good basic two point sling.
I also have Vickers Blue Force Gear slings that I like.
If using QD sling swivels get the Mlok steel ones and not aluminum for the handguard.
I have had those let go, dropping the rifle on your foot.
I use QD swivels on the rear and para clips on the front on mine.
Between a scope and red dot? Both.
I have a Sig Romeo5 on an ADM QD mount that can be swapped out for a scope with a QD mount on one of mine.
From what you have for scopes I would opt for the 2.5-7
Usable at low power for closer shots and plenty of upper magnification.
The Magpul MS1 is a good basic two point sling.
I also have Vickers Blue Force Gear slings that I like.
If using QD sling swivels get the Mlok steel ones and not aluminum for the handguard.
I have had those let go, dropping the rifle on your foot.
I use QD swivels on the rear and para clips on the front on mine.
illinoisburt
Member
Happy Holidays to you and everyone else as well!
Since it seems like for the moment you are working within a limited budget and are in experimentation mode, I would use one of your existing scopes before dropping $ on other optics as you learn and become more proficient with the new rifle. Either of your more compact models will work fine -- try to mount it with both rings on the receiver rails rather than splitting out onto the handguard. In theory it shouldn't matter but sometimes the forearm rail won't be perfectly aligned on budget guns and it's best to not introduce potential torque or offset on the scope tube.
What lower did you get? The PSA fixed stock or adjustable one? I use one of each and they both work fine. Their standard triggers take some practice and dry firing to get used to but they’re perfectly adequate.
What sights are you using? Carry handle rear and front sight mounted to the barrel? Peep sights are a slightly different skill set than scopes or red dots. Research their use and see if you want to use them or get some thing else. Shooting for fun I use peep or open sights. Shooting for results I use optics.
The iron sights on my 20” rifle regularly get 0.6 to 1.5 MOA with good hand loads. Even if you have Magpul MBUS sights, they gave me less than 2 MOA with 55 grain FMJ ammo out to 200 yards. Even though I’m a proponent of the standard carry handle sights, the globe style sights you refer to are even more accurate but also a different skill set again.
What sights are you using? Carry handle rear and front sight mounted to the barrel? Peep sights are a slightly different skill set than scopes or red dots. Research their use and see if you want to use them or get some thing else. Shooting for fun I use peep or open sights. Shooting for results I use optics.
The iron sights on my 20” rifle regularly get 0.6 to 1.5 MOA with good hand loads. Even if you have Magpul MBUS sights, they gave me less than 2 MOA with 55 grain FMJ ammo out to 200 yards. Even though I’m a proponent of the standard carry handle sights, the globe style sights you refer to are even more accurate but also a different skill set again.
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Charlie Martinez
Member
I got a PSA lower with the adjustable stock & mated it with a Bear Creek Armory upper. The trigger is not the best but like you say perfectly adequate. .
My sights are polymer, flipup type, peep rear (I can choose between ghost and standard) adjustable for windage and a post front adjustable for elevation. The sights are OK also but I too need optics to shoot tight groups. I still have no idea how accurate my rifle is but so far it has worked perfectly and I am very happy with it.
My PSA 16” upper came with MBUS flip up sights. I zeroed them for 50 yards and then mounted my scope. At 50 yards with 55 grain range ammo I can’t shoot the difference between a scope and the flip up sights. As distance increases and/or ammo gets better the scope shows it’s advantages.
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