Wifey AR, Redux

[MachIVshooter]

Well, we finally got the buffer debacle resolved with a US-made UTG 4/15 stock kit, and I made the safety southpaw-friendly for her (no, it's not ambi-I took it back out, reinserted on the right side, scored it in place and then machined the notches). All the rest of the accessories finally showed up, too. Mucho better



To recap, it's a DSA lower with Rguns stainless LPK, Rguns anodized bronze complete M-4gery upper, and the aforementioned UTG 4/15 buttstock/extension kit. Generic A2 detacheable carry handle, carry handle rail and forend rail, can't remember the brand on the 4 position shorty grip or single point bungee sling. Light is a Streamlight (Insight) M3 I had on hand, holographic sight is just an NCStar. I know, not all the best stuff. But hey, I work for a living, it's just a range toy for her, and I still needed to buy a Warn VR12000 winch before the funds from the truck ran out

She still wants an MOE or CTR stock, we're gonna do something about the grip once she finds one she likes, I have a new end plate with sling swivel on the way, and I've decided rather than cut & blind pin the barrel, we'll deal with the hideous M-4gery look with a UTG Pro 4/15 extended quad rail:



Opinions welcome!

 

[ugaarguy]

Opinions welcome!

You seem to be trying to do things as fast and cheap as possible with little to no regard for quality or functionality. I've been there myself, and ended up spending more money when the fast and cheap way out didn't work in actual use. I had to learn the hard way, so please learn from my mistakes. Get quality parts - buy once, cry once.


UTG rails are heavy, and they use a softer lower grade aluminum. If you can afford it, get a better rail like a Troy, Samson, DD, or Midwest Industries. The Troy MRF-CX at 9oz is nearly half the weight of the 17.6 oz UTG rail you're looking at.

If those are out of the budget right now a Magpul MOE handguard set will provide high quality and excellent functionality at a low price point while you save for a nicer quad rail.

If you just want the look, and don't care about weight or quality then the UTG rail fills that role. It's your money so do what you want.

 

[mljdeckard]

I'm also a big MOE fan.

 

[Old Dog]

My wife is a HUGE fan of the Mag-Pul handguards (as am I) -- very lightweight and feel good in the hand -- and she's decided the Mag-Pul CTR stock is her favorite as well (the CTR currently sits on all my ARs, too, except for one Colt-Rogers "SuperStok." The MOE is good, but the CTR a bit better, and has the hole for the quick-detach swivel mount.

I'd submit if you're gonna go with rails, the Midwest Industries drop-in handguard rails are far better than the UTG ... The Hogue is a female hand-friendly grip, as is the Ergo and the Mag-Pul MOE/MIAD ...

This is one of our ARs (my wife's, but she occasionally lets me shoot it):

 

[MachIVshooter]

You seem to be trying to do things as fast and cheap as possible with little to no regard for quality or functionality.

Like I said, it's a range toy. She isn't doing carbine courses or anything, this rifle won't see hard use. Honestly, it won't see much use at all. I doubt it'll fire more than 1,000 rounds per year, probably much less. She gets to the range with me maybe 4 times annually, and is only good for a couple hours max.

Neither she or I like the look of MOE handguards, nor are they compatible with standard accessories. So those are a no-go. And while I'm aware that the UTG quad rail is heavier and not as tough as the high end stuff, I'm simply not in a position financially to put a $400 quad rail on a very limited use gun just because. Same goes for the carry handle and holographic sight; At this point in the game, she simply will not realize or be able to take advantage of the benefits of a $500+ optic. If she decides later when our girls are older that she'd like to get more serious about shooting sports, we'll revisit this stuff.

I appreciate the input, though, and I do recognize the merit. I shoot a whole lot more, so I can justify more expensive products on my AR's. That said, I'm perfectly satisfied with my stock Armalite M15A2C, don't really care for fancy stocks or handguards. It sports a bolt-on lower rail with UTG ergo grip and a Streamlight TLR-1HP attached to the side of a Z-rail.

 

[Quentin]

That's a nice looking and functional rifle you did for your wife, Old Dog. I'm also a fan of the MOE handguards and pistol grip, MBUS2 and CTR. I'm moving toward that configuration on all three of my ARs. Makes for a lightweight yet solid rifle.

 

[ugaarguy]

MachIV, your choices make complete sense now that I've read the intended use and frequency (or lack thereof) of use.

MagPul does offer small sections of picatinny rail that attach to the MOE handguards for mounting standard accessories. Of course, that still doesn't solve the looks issue, so it still doesn't matter in this case.

I would also like to point out that the Troy MRF-CX is only $200 and not $400. I also understand that's still more than 3x the price of the UTG extended quad rail, and still doesn't come close to making economic sense on this build. So, I solved nothing again.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The Hogue is a female hand-friendly grip, as is the Ergo and the Mag-Pul MOE/MIAD ...

Well, I have the Hogue on both of my AR's, and she finds them a bit uncomfortable due to the male-hand spacing of the finger grooves. We're just going to have her try all of them and decide what fits.

your choices make complete sense now that I've read the intended use and frequency (or lack thereof) of use.

Yeah, that's pretty much it. If she gets serious later on, we'll build her a serious toy. But putting together a $2,500 rifle for her now makes about as much sense as a 1,200 HP twin turbo motor spinning a braked transmission connected to 40 spline chromoly axle shafts outfitted with Brembo quad piston calipers behind lightweight forged alloy beadlock wheels on a grocery getter.

ETA:

I did look up the MRF-CX........It adds 9 ounces to the M4, meaning it's the weight of the plastic handguards plus 9 oz, not 9 oz total. The stock handguards and delta ring weigh about 9 oz by themselves. That means the Troy rail itself is actually heavier than the UTG. Of course, the Troy ditches the delta ring where the UTG retains it, but that's only 2-1/2 oz. I have no doubt the MRF-CX is better, but it isn't really lighter.

I've been fairly impressed with UTG's quality, especially the US made products. Of course there's better stuff, but not without spending a good deal more.

Anyway, if she finds the weight of a quad rail objectionable, well.......that's what a drill press and vertical mill are for. And it's a lot less disconcerting to start chewing metal off of a $65 dollar piece than a $230 unit.