The AR15 as a gadget

[the_tyrant]

http://www.wired.com/dangerroom/2013/02/ar-15/

I was shaking as I shouldered the rifle and peered through the scope at the small steel target 100 yards downrange. It was officially the coldest day in Las Vegas history, and I was in the middle of the desert, buffeted by wind and surrounded by the professional gun press, about to fire an AR-15 for the first time.
I grew up with guns, and I even own a small .22-caliber target pistol that I take to the range occasionally. But I had fired a rifle maybe twice in the past five years. I was a novice, and I was frozen to the core. I flinched as I pulled the trigger the first time, sending my shot wide of the mark. But the recoil wasn’t nearly as bad as I had feared; in fact, the shot was actually pleasant. I fired again with more confidence, and the bullet rang the distant steel plate like a bell; then the next shot hit, and the next.
“You’re doing great,” said Justin Harvel, founder of Black Rain Ordnance and maker of the gun I was shooting.
“It’s not me,” I replied. “I’ve never shot like this in my life. It’s gotta be this gun.”
“Yeah, it’s definitely not your daddy’s hunting rifle, is it?”
In the wake of the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, the AR-15 has gone from the most popular rifle in America to the most scrutinized and, in some quarters, vilified. Also known by its military designation, the M16, the rifle was racking up record sales in the years before Sandy Hook, but now, in the midst of a renewed effort to ban this weapon and others like it from civilian hands, the AR-15 market has gone nuclear, with some gun outlets rumored to have done three years’ worth of sales in the three weeks after Newtown.
Now that the post-Newtown nation has suddenly woken up to the breakout popularity of the AR-15, a host of questions are being asked, especially about who is buying these rifles, and why. Why would normal, law-abiding Americans want to own a deadly weapon that was clearly designed for military use? Why are existing AR-15 owners buying as many of these rifles as they can get their hands on? Are these people Doomsday preppers? Militia types, arming for a second American Civil War? Or are they young military fantasists whose minds have been warped by way too much Call of Duty?
Preppers, militia types, and SEAL Team 6 wannabes are certainly represented in the AR-15′s customer base. But fringe groups don’t adequately explain the roughly 5 million “black rifles” (as fans of the gun tend to call it) that are now in the hands of the public. No, the real secret to the AR-15′s incredible success is that this rifle is the “personal computer” of the gun world.
In the past two decades, the AR-15 has evolved into an open, modular gun platform that’s infinitely hackable and accessorizable. With only a few simple tools and no gunsmithing expertise, an AR-15 can be heavily modified, or even assembled from scratch, from widely available parts to suit the fancy and fantasy of each individual user. In this respect, the AR-15 is the world’s first “maker” gun, and this is why its appeal extends well beyond the military enthusiasts that many anti-gun types presume make up its core demographic.

Very, VERY interesting interpretation of the AR-15 as an open platform for innovation and tinkering. Definitely worth a read

[MH]

Yeah... IR15 touch HD and don't forget to jailbreak it...

[TFatseas]

I am a firm believer in the K.I.S.S principle.

(Keep It Simple Stupid) Mine is nothing more than A3 upper with a detachable A2 carry handle.

Might get a red dot or a small 3x scope in the future though, I'm not sure yet. First priority is for the panic to die down so I get my hands on more mags and .223.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by TFatseas

I am a firm believer in the K.I.S.S principle.

(Keep It Simple Stupid) Mine is nothing more than A3 upper with a detachable A2 carry handle.

Might get a red dot or a small 3x scope in the future though, I'm not sure yet. First priority is for the panic to die down so I get my hands on more mags and .223.

That must be some gun companies marketing because the M16A3 is a fully automatic M16A4 ordered in small numbers by the US Marines.What makes an A3 an A3 is that it has a sear that allows fully automatic fire over an A4s three round burst.In the military the upper of an A3 and A4 are exactly the same.

The A3 you are talking about has to be some firearms manufactures name for an upper receiver that has picatinny rails.I am curious though why have an upper that allows for the direct mounting of sights but not not some other site other than the carrying handle mounted one?Seems kind of a moot point.I would buy an optic and get the full benefit of the upper from the start myself and if I could not afford them all in one go I would buy a rear sight that mounts on the upper first that way I have a back up iron site available for immediate use should the optic fail once I was able to purchase one and a usable weapon with iron sites in the mean time.

[August]

I have this Colt scope for my AR. The nice thing about it is you can still use the iron sights when it's mounted on the weapon.

[TFatseas]

Originally Posted by Stealhead

That must be some gun companies marketing because the M16A3 is a fully automatic M16A4 ordered in small numbers by the US Marines.What makes an A3 an A3 is that it has a sear that allows fully automatic fire over an A4s three round burst.In the military the upper of an A3 and A4 are exactly the same.

The A3 you are talking about has to be some firearms manufactures name for an upper receiver that has picatinny rails.I am curious though why have an upper that allows for the direct mounting of sights but not not some other site other than the carrying handle mounted one?Seems kind of a moot point.I would buy an optic and get the full benefit of the upper from the start myself and if I could not afford them all in one go I would buy a rear sight that mounts on the upper first that way I have a back up iron site available for immediate use should the optic fail once I was able to purchase one and a usable weapon with iron sites in the mean time.

http://www.biggerhammer.net/ar15/uppers/

On regards to the carry handle. It's because I'm a cheap college student and good optics cost money.

Also, I just like the lines of an AR with a carry handle.

And besides, the A2 sights are a lot better than the BUIS that came with the gun.

[TFatseas]

Originally Posted by August

I have this Colt scope for my AR. The nice thing about it is you can still use the iron sights when it's mounted on the weapon.

Yep, I wouldn't mind finding one of those Colt scopes, but rarity and the Colt premium are making them a tad hard to get a hold of.

I thinking along the lines of something like this for my AR.

https://www.primaryarms.com/Primary_...3X_p/pac3x.htm

[Dammit_Carl!]

I ain't going to lie; I wouldn't mind a AR type rifle as I'm very comfortable with the system but I can't honestly justify getting one at the end of the day.

Home D is covered with the shotty (and pistol if/when I can be assed to get one - looking hard at a Stoeger Cougar right now). Fun stuff is covered by the Swede Mauser and the Garand.

Eh, maybe someday...

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Dammit_Carl!

I ain't going to lie; I wouldn't mind a AR type rifle as I'm very comfortable with the system but I can't honestly justify getting one at the end of the day.

I was in the same boat. What justified it to me was two things:
1.) It's a rifle my recoil sensitive wife can shoot comfortably and get rounds on target with.

2.) It's better to have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it. With the Gun control crew in washington working in full swing to remove that option, I decided that "Now is the time" to get one.

(Thankfully I was watching the news reports and got our rifle and mags before the rush started in full swing. I saw the news about sandy hook on Friday, was at the gun store the following saturday morning, Fienstien opened her mouth the following sunday afternoon, and the run on the gun stores was at full tilt the following morning on monday.)

[breadcatcher101]

I guess I am old school, but I am happy with my Colt SP-1 AR-15, has a 20 inch barrel, shoots the 55 grain load, is a pleaure to shoot--and very tight groups.

Years back I had a chance to get one of those Colt scopes, 3X I think it was. The guy wanted too much for it IMO, and within 300 yards who needs one anyway.

As for add ons, a sling is all I need, still use the old 20 round mags as well.

[August]

Well aside from the scope the only other modification I've done to my AR is to replace the round hand guard with the old style triangular one. It fits my hand better and the weapon doesn't feel so "rolly".

[Dammit_Carl!]

I hear you, Ducimus.

An SBR AR type would be a good replacement for the shotgun. Or, I get a bayonet for the Garand for the ultimate intimidation factor.

Buying both is really the only correct answer here.

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by Dammit_Carl!

Or, I get a bayonet for the Garand for the ultimate intimidation factor.

I'm not sure just how intimidating I would actually find someone with a bayonet. The strength of the firearm is the ability to harm beyond the range of physical contact. Using a melee attachment negates the distinct advantage of a firearm.

[breadcatcher101]

Nothing wrong with adding a scope, August. I would have bought that one but like i said, too much was wanted for it.

Mine also has the triangle grip as well as a fixed butt stock. From a distance it loks like one of the early type M16's except mine has the enclosed bird cage.

And I do have a bayonet. Not that I need it, but I got in out of respect for a couple of senators from California.

[Stealhead]

Originally Posted by Takeda Shingen

I'm not sure just how intimidating I would actually find someone with a bayonet. The strength of the firearm is the ability to harm beyond the range of physical contact. Using a melee attachment negates the distinct advantage of a firearm.

That all depends in well trained hands a rifle with bayonet becomes a very effective melee weapon and can be very deadly.In combat of course the bayonet is only used when the normal role of the firearm is not a viable option.This is very rare in modern warfare but up until the end of WWII a bayonet was a very viable weapon and still is in very close quarters.A solider needs to be able to make a firearm a melee weapon in certain situations.

I do not know when it comes to more recent wars but in Vietnam the bayonet saw a lot of use(as in killing or injuring an enemy) and they do get fixed even today.Sorry the video has some language.(the troopers rifle has a bayonet fixed as you can see it got close enough to be of use)
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=121_1246978752

Outside of direct warfare the value of a bayoneted firearm is more questionable though some police officers are killed by getting beaten to death sometimes with their own pistol proving that at extreme close range and blade never hurts or that it can be impossible to bring the ballistic advantage to bear sometimes.

@TFatseas do they have LMT BUIS that kind are just like the rear site in the carrying handle but does not take up the space of course they are designed to be the same height as a carrying handle rear.Of course if you like the carrying handle go with it just it seems to waste having a pictanny upper to me.