Why do these AR thingies have to be so easy to accessorize?

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Marko Kloos

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Dang it.

When I bought my DPMS carbine, I told myself that I'd leave it box-stock. ("Iron sights are good enough for me.") Besides, it'd be hard to make fun of all the Tactical Teds out there who bolt lasers, lights, weather stations, and coffee makers to their poodleshooters.

Well, one thing leads to another...hey, Wally World has cheap red dots, and my 'smith says they're decent. A red dot for fast-'n-dirty work inside 100 yards would be nice, right? Gotta get the sight, and a sight base for the carry handle.

Today I came across one of the new Fobus mag clamps, and for $7 I couldn't pass it up. ("Hey, works better than duct tape.")

Now I have an ergo grip on order, and I'm already eyeing the handguards with built-in Picatinny rails, so I can mount a vertical foregrip. And dare I say it, a new sling for upright carry seems to make sense as well.

Whatever will I do next? What's the must-have doodad for the Black Rifle these days?
 
I know what you mean. I am really trying to resist the urge to add stuff to my DPMS carbine. I keep telling myself that the most I will do is add a 4X22 A-15 scope. But then I saw them nifty 4 rail handguards that DPMS has and thought hmmmm, that could really make the gun interesting. Still don't know what I want to do. I try to tell myself that while I was an Air Force SP, our box stock rifels served the purpose, but then the other voices chime in and try to over rule me.:evil:
 
lendringser- How much did you pay for it? How many rounds have you put threw it?


I'm thinking of getting an A3 someday and tricking it out with an ACOG. I think I wanna stick with a 16in barrel. I'm new to the AR world and stuck with a Bushmaster for a first time go around. Next time I'll shop for a better deal.
 
What it is, is, the AR add-on-thingummy guys learned from the car-dealer salesfolks: "Hey, I'll give'em the car! Where I make my money is, I'll kill'em on the accessories!"

So the good honest gunmakers make a little profit, but the add-on guys make a ton! A ton-and-a-half, if it's black and tactical.

:D, Art
 
The AR-15 was never meant to be an infantryman's rifle. That job goes to the M-14. What Eugune Stoner designed for us is a crew served weapon. How can you tell when it's ready as a crew served weapon?

1) Can you pick it up? If yes, it doesn't have enough "add-ons" yet.

2) It must have the following three sights: scope or red dot, laser and back-up iron sights.

3) Does it have ambidextrious magazine release so your crewmate can drop the old mag and insert a fresh one?

4) Does it have an ambidextious safety in case your crewmate wants to play?

5) Does it take up the entire back seat and is uncomfortable for the dog to lay on?

For further reading, check up: MIL-no-sense-2003-01-31
 
That is a great pic lendringser, I downloaded it. I know what you mean. But I have resisted. I have a Bushy 16" shorty that I bought to replace my dissapointing Mini-14. Iron sights. A2 handle. Basic carbine. I am going to try to keep her innocent. Perhaps a tactical light, but that is all. Well maybe a red dot, but nothing else. Thermold mags, on occasion. Of course, a 24" varminter upper with scope, but after that I quit. Maybe a night sight . . .

The AR-15 - never finished, always building. A great system!
 
bad dad,
Ditto on the mini-14. I traded mine for a nice .22 and a .22 WMR, took a loss and haven't looked back.
Still saving for the AR... This summer, one way or the other...
Slick
 
What's the must-have doodad for the Black Rifle these days?

I asked none other than Pat Rogers what makes the ultimate AR15 back on TFL for me to use at Gunsite. I followed his advice pretty close, I am not sure my rifle is exactly what he had in mind, but I think it is close.
Bushmaster 16" (Pat recommended a Colt)
A2 Stock (I figured out long ago that all the trick stuff; the collapsables and all that are vastly inferior to the standard stock).
Tac Sling. Mine is from Wilderness but there are similar ones out there. I have used a number of different slings with ARs, but the Single Point of Attachment type sling is in a league by itself.
Aimpoint ML2. I have two other guns equippted with optical sights, but this one is far superior. I shoot much better using this sight than I do the iron sights. Both on paper, or when shooting for speed (especially when shooting for speed, the difference between a dot and iron when shooting for speed isn't even close). It is rugged; this is what the US Army uses. The batteries supposedly last something like 10,000 hours and if it dies, I have a spare right in my CG&G mount. I think I figured out that I can leave this sight turned on for several years and it will still be running. It mounts on a rail and can be removed in a second. I also have back up iron sights that I can use with or without the ML2 mounted.
Wilson Combat muzzle brake. I have to thank the assult weapons ban for introducing me to muzzle brakes. In side by side comparisons between my other ARs and those of my buddies, this brake seems to be the most effective. It allows much faster and more accurate follow up shots. After using this brake, I wouldn't be without it. My buddies and I are in the process of unscrewing the flash suppressors from our pre-bans and replacing them with Wilson Combat brakes.
Surefire 500A light system. This is the one item that I found hard to justify. But, Pat told me that in the Gunsite courses, I would need some type of weapons mounted light. He said that the only one to get is the Surefire. When I looked at the three basic options Surefire offeres, I couln't believe how expensive they were. I figured if I was going to spend that kind of money, I would get the best one. The 500 series lights, are lights that are an integral part of the front handguards. You replace your old handguards with the new ones which have the light as part of them. There are no wires running anywhere, the light and switches are all integral to the handguards. I doubt that I will ever use this outside of the Gunsite courses, but it is trick.
If I want to shoot a bone stock AR, I have that too.
 
Keep saving Slick. I am so impressed with my Bushy that I have fallen in love with her and named her Charlene. I even slept with her one night. Honestly though, a great, quality, and solid firearm. Well worth the $300 over the Mini-14.

I still have my Mini, but I think a good trade would be a quality lever action in .30-30. Maybe my dealer can do me a favor.
 
El Tejon,

Oh, no, our beloved lend has been stricken down with the Iwannacoolgun virus!
Click to expand...

For putting a red dot sight on his gun?

Maybe you can set that wet-behind-the-ears "Pat Rogers" guy straight; he seems to think they're a Good Thing...
 
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