ASH556
03-29-13, 12:49
Thank God for the modularity of the AR15 design. I've really put this poor rifle through the ringer in the two years that I've had it. Using quality parts the whole time has really made the transitions easy, though and I've had no issues with anything I've tried to run.
The goal all along has been to build that mystical do-it-all rifle that we're all looking for. The more things I try, the more I believe that you really need 2 rifles, or at least 2 uppers. That said, I think I'm pretty happy with this configuration. I've tried enough things to rule them out knowing that they don't work for my purposes and I also know what compromises I'm making, so I'm better able to accept those.
I began this journey with this rifle:
Upper
Daniel Defense 16" LW CHF Barrel, 1:7, A2FH. Assembled to Daniel Defense Upper with 14.0 Lite Rail
Danield Defense FA BCG
Daniel Defense Charging Handle. I've replaced the DD CH with a PRI Gasbuster I already had.
KAC Micro BUIS
Lower
Daniel Defense Stripped Lower
Daniel Defense LPK -
LMT SOPMOD Stock Kit
Noveske QD End Plate
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/DDARRT2.jpg
I think I over-emphasized the lightweight aspect of this rifle initially because I came from the below rifle that was just super nose-heavy because of the Surefire light/forend I was using:
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_4029.jpg
What's funny is that there was some foreshadowing of my eventual setup choice in some of the pics I took the night I put the DD together. Here's a mock-up pic I took that night while weighing optics options:
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/DDARACOG.jpg
I ran the orginal LW DD configuration in a Vickers class with irons while deciding on/saving for and optic. I learned in that class (because it rained all day) that 2 parts of my gear sucked to use when it was wet: Teflon-coated GI mags and a PRI Gasbuster charging handle. So I swapped all my GI mags for Pmags and swapped the Gasbuster for a BCM Gunfighter. After the Vickers class, I was pretty set on the Aimpoint T-1, but I still wanted some magnification, so I threw an Aimpoint 3X in a Larue mount behind the T-1.
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/T1-MAGCLOSELT1.jpg
I ran this setup for about a year and never really liked it. I felt like the FOV when using the magnfier was very small. Also, the magnifier distorted the T-1's dot quite a bit. Finally, it was still just a dot for an aiming point. There were no holdover points for shooting at longer ranges. At this point, I made a whole bunch of changes to my firearms lineup. I sold the magnifier and I swapped my .308 bolt precision rifle for a DD MK18 SBR. My thinking at that point became that I would put 16" gun into a "Recce" precision role and put the T-1 by itself on the SBR. So, I bought what most touted as the best SPR/Recce scope money could buy: The Nightforce 2.5-10x24.
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_7954.jpg
I quickly decided two things: the scope was extremely unforgiving in terms of head position and would really only work well from static positions and/or paired with an offset red dot for moving or shooting from non-static positions. The second thing was that I had more scope than I did barrel. So, I thought long and hard about it and decided that I really didn't want or need a true "Precision" rifle in my lineup. A CQB option and then an "outside" rifle with a little magnification for target ID and some precision would suffice. Also, this whole time, I was still fighting that battle of keeping this rifle "lightweight." This lead to me making some compromises I probably shouldn't have, but more on that later.
The next step was to try the ACOG. I considered 1-4's, but in the end decided that due to weight (see, there it is again) and actual use, I'd prefer to have a fixed magnification optic with an offset red dot. I got a pro-deal on the Trijicon stuff and ordered a TA33HG (supposedly the "best" of the ACOG's) and also the 3.5 MOA RMR-A. While waiting the 12-14 weeks for that order to arrive, I also decided to swap the 14.0 Lite rail to a DD RIS II. I felt like the 14" rail was a bit of overkill. I grew to dislike the "tall," "I-beam" feel of the Lite rail as well. I decided that the RIS II would be good as it would have the same feel as the MK18 rail. That was a really good decision. I still love this rail. Also, while waiting for the Trijicon order to arrive and since my MK18 stamp was still pending, I put the T-1 back on the 16".
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_8111.jpg
I really enjoyed shooting the rifle this way and its simplicity spoiled me. The Trijicon order arrived shortly after my SBR stamp had come back. By that time, my wife and I were expecting our first child. With the influx of costs (nursery furniture, new carpet, etc) I needed to sell the Trijicon stuff pretty quickly. I never shot either of the Trijicon optics from that order, but I did spend a few days looking around the house and subdivision through the TA33. I just never could get into it and was honestly glad to be selling it. I found it to be very similar to the T-1 with 3X magnifier. The narrow FOV made it slow and the reticle seemed tiny. Almost like a half-assed ACOG, not quite as fast as a red dot, but not as precise as a precision scope. It took a great deal of effort to use, like trying to find targets through a straw. Anyway, here's what it looked like when I sold it and the poor naked rifle as it sat for a few months. In fact, I was so enamored with my new SBR setup, I considered selling the 16" gun.
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_9736.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_9751.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_9764.jpg
Feeling bad for the lonely 16" gun which had served me so faithfully, I began to conjure up ways to get money to put into it again. I decided that a couple of Leupold hunting scopes I had sitting on a .22 and a 30/06 in the safe were less useful to me than an optic on an AR I would shoot more often, so I put them up for sale. A guy on TOS traded me a Tan EOTECH for the pair of Leupolds. I never planned to keep the EOTECH, but it was worth more than the pair of Leupolds so I made the trade. I put it on the rifle and tried it out just to further convince myself that I didn't want it:
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_9817.jpg
I put the EOTECH up and was hoping to get a VX-R Patrol 1-4 with the firedot. It was lighter weight than some of the other 1-4's on the market and I hoped the Firedot would work enough like the Aimpoint I loved to be useable for me. Instead, I got an offer for trade for a Leupold MK4 1.5-5 SPR MR/T in a Larue mount. I also had to include my KAC BUIS to close the deal. That was painful, but I was excited about the MK4 so I went with it. That was a mistake. The optic worked nothing like I hoped. I was definitely more of a precision optic and had nothing to help with quick target acquisition. I thought that the ring in the SPR reticle with the illumination turned on might be like an EOTECH, but I was wrong. Simply not bold/bright enough and 1.5X was too much on the bottom end. On the positive end, I did have a very nice buddy who hooked me up with another set of BUIS for the rifle. Also, I was able to trade a pistol barrel I wasn't using for a KAC 2-stage trigger to put in this lower. The real failure point for this setup came as I used it for an evening deer hunt. On my way out of the woods, I heard what I thought was probably a coyote following me. I turned and tried to shine my weak-assed headlamp on it, but could only see the reflection of eyes about 20 yds away. I tried to make out more though the scope, but it simply didn't transmit enough of the headlamp light for me to see anything. Part of this problem could've been solved if I'd had a good light on the gun too. Instead, I drew my pistol and proceeded to make my way out of the woods hoping that I wouldn't receive a sneak attack from behind. (I didn't).
The other thing that I learned from this setup was that the Lightweight barrel was going to be more of an accuracy issue than I though. I shot some groups at 100 with it and with Black Hills 75gr match, 1.7 was the best the gun would shoot. So I began again to consider a barrel swap.
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_9869.jpg
Time ticked on. I sold the KAC trigger and replaced it with a Geissele SSA-E to match the one in my MK18 lower. I sold another third Leupold off a .22. I also sold the Leupold MK4. My son was born!:D I got some Christmas money and around that time Cabela's had a super sale on their Zeiss Conquest scopes so I grabbed one and figured I could make it pull double duty between the AR and the .22. I also decided to go back with the simplicity of the Aimpoint. I bought back an M2 cheap from a buddy that I had sold him a few years ago. I managed to make the dual-optic setup sort-of work by swapping the two back and forth. I really liked the way the gun felt and worked with the Aimpoint, but felt like I had a redundant setup to my MK18.
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_1182.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_1180.jpg
Sandy Hook had happened and things were in full panic mode. I had a complete upper and some other spare parts sitting around, so I decided to build them up and see what they would bring. I included the M2 with that rifle and managed a tidy profit. Part of that went to replacing the M2 with another T1 and also paying for a great deal I got on a used M4-2000 suppressor (enter the dilemma of the lightweight barrel again). I figured I could kill two birds with one stone and get a heavier, stiffer barrel for less POI shift with the suppressor. My hope was also that the heavier barrel would dissipate heat better and make for a more accurate rifle. Knowing that I was going to mount a suppressor and that my muzzle device would have to stay on the gun in order to mount the suppressor, I figured why not go shorter and perm the mount.
I pulled the DD LW barrel and sold it for enough to buy a PSA/FN CHF 14.7" Socom profile barrel plus a new gas tube and BCM Low Profile block. I didn't feel that just the set screws holding the gas block to the barrel was enough so I also bought the BRDE pinning jig. Man, I have to say I was very nervous about drilling through a brand new barrel, but the jig did its job and held everything nice and straight. After drilling, I used a 2/0 reamer to taper the hole and installed a 5/8" taper pin. It went a lot smoother and easier than I thought it would and I'm really glad I did it. It's now another thing I can do myself when custom-building AR's. After I re-assembled the upper, I took it to my local shop to have the 51-tooth AAC FH mount perm'd. The final piece of the puzzle was deciding that the dual-optic setup was more of a hassle than I wanted and I still wanted some magnification. I managed to trade the second T-1 plus a little bit of cash for a TA11 in a Larue mount. The TA11 is larger than the TA33 I had but it also has a much better FOV. The reticle seems larger and more useable with the windage hash marks. Even with going to the heaver barrel, the rifle still balances right about at the magwell. It feels really good and has all the features I wanted in an "Outside" rifle.
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_2050.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_2043.jpg
The goal all along has been to build that mystical do-it-all rifle that we're all looking for. The more things I try, the more I believe that you really need 2 rifles, or at least 2 uppers. That said, I think I'm pretty happy with this configuration. I've tried enough things to rule them out knowing that they don't work for my purposes and I also know what compromises I'm making, so I'm better able to accept those.
I began this journey with this rifle:
Upper
Daniel Defense 16" LW CHF Barrel, 1:7, A2FH. Assembled to Daniel Defense Upper with 14.0 Lite Rail
Danield Defense FA BCG
Daniel Defense Charging Handle. I've replaced the DD CH with a PRI Gasbuster I already had.
KAC Micro BUIS
Lower
Daniel Defense Stripped Lower
Daniel Defense LPK -
LMT SOPMOD Stock Kit
Noveske QD End Plate
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/DDARRT2.jpg
I think I over-emphasized the lightweight aspect of this rifle initially because I came from the below rifle that was just super nose-heavy because of the Surefire light/forend I was using:
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_4029.jpg
What's funny is that there was some foreshadowing of my eventual setup choice in some of the pics I took the night I put the DD together. Here's a mock-up pic I took that night while weighing optics options:
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/DDARACOG.jpg
I ran the orginal LW DD configuration in a Vickers class with irons while deciding on/saving for and optic. I learned in that class (because it rained all day) that 2 parts of my gear sucked to use when it was wet: Teflon-coated GI mags and a PRI Gasbuster charging handle. So I swapped all my GI mags for Pmags and swapped the Gasbuster for a BCM Gunfighter. After the Vickers class, I was pretty set on the Aimpoint T-1, but I still wanted some magnification, so I threw an Aimpoint 3X in a Larue mount behind the T-1.
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/T1-MAGCLOSELT1.jpg
I ran this setup for about a year and never really liked it. I felt like the FOV when using the magnfier was very small. Also, the magnifier distorted the T-1's dot quite a bit. Finally, it was still just a dot for an aiming point. There were no holdover points for shooting at longer ranges. At this point, I made a whole bunch of changes to my firearms lineup. I sold the magnifier and I swapped my .308 bolt precision rifle for a DD MK18 SBR. My thinking at that point became that I would put 16" gun into a "Recce" precision role and put the T-1 by itself on the SBR. So, I bought what most touted as the best SPR/Recce scope money could buy: The Nightforce 2.5-10x24.
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_7954.jpg
I quickly decided two things: the scope was extremely unforgiving in terms of head position and would really only work well from static positions and/or paired with an offset red dot for moving or shooting from non-static positions. The second thing was that I had more scope than I did barrel. So, I thought long and hard about it and decided that I really didn't want or need a true "Precision" rifle in my lineup. A CQB option and then an "outside" rifle with a little magnification for target ID and some precision would suffice. Also, this whole time, I was still fighting that battle of keeping this rifle "lightweight." This lead to me making some compromises I probably shouldn't have, but more on that later.
The next step was to try the ACOG. I considered 1-4's, but in the end decided that due to weight (see, there it is again) and actual use, I'd prefer to have a fixed magnification optic with an offset red dot. I got a pro-deal on the Trijicon stuff and ordered a TA33HG (supposedly the "best" of the ACOG's) and also the 3.5 MOA RMR-A. While waiting the 12-14 weeks for that order to arrive, I also decided to swap the 14.0 Lite rail to a DD RIS II. I felt like the 14" rail was a bit of overkill. I grew to dislike the "tall," "I-beam" feel of the Lite rail as well. I decided that the RIS II would be good as it would have the same feel as the MK18 rail. That was a really good decision. I still love this rail. Also, while waiting for the Trijicon order to arrive and since my MK18 stamp was still pending, I put the T-1 back on the 16".
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_8111.jpg
I really enjoyed shooting the rifle this way and its simplicity spoiled me. The Trijicon order arrived shortly after my SBR stamp had come back. By that time, my wife and I were expecting our first child. With the influx of costs (nursery furniture, new carpet, etc) I needed to sell the Trijicon stuff pretty quickly. I never shot either of the Trijicon optics from that order, but I did spend a few days looking around the house and subdivision through the TA33. I just never could get into it and was honestly glad to be selling it. I found it to be very similar to the T-1 with 3X magnifier. The narrow FOV made it slow and the reticle seemed tiny. Almost like a half-assed ACOG, not quite as fast as a red dot, but not as precise as a precision scope. It took a great deal of effort to use, like trying to find targets through a straw. Anyway, here's what it looked like when I sold it and the poor naked rifle as it sat for a few months. In fact, I was so enamored with my new SBR setup, I considered selling the 16" gun.
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_9736.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_9751.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_9764.jpg
Feeling bad for the lonely 16" gun which had served me so faithfully, I began to conjure up ways to get money to put into it again. I decided that a couple of Leupold hunting scopes I had sitting on a .22 and a 30/06 in the safe were less useful to me than an optic on an AR I would shoot more often, so I put them up for sale. A guy on TOS traded me a Tan EOTECH for the pair of Leupolds. I never planned to keep the EOTECH, but it was worth more than the pair of Leupolds so I made the trade. I put it on the rifle and tried it out just to further convince myself that I didn't want it:
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_9817.jpg
I put the EOTECH up and was hoping to get a VX-R Patrol 1-4 with the firedot. It was lighter weight than some of the other 1-4's on the market and I hoped the Firedot would work enough like the Aimpoint I loved to be useable for me. Instead, I got an offer for trade for a Leupold MK4 1.5-5 SPR MR/T in a Larue mount. I also had to include my KAC BUIS to close the deal. That was painful, but I was excited about the MK4 so I went with it. That was a mistake. The optic worked nothing like I hoped. I was definitely more of a precision optic and had nothing to help with quick target acquisition. I thought that the ring in the SPR reticle with the illumination turned on might be like an EOTECH, but I was wrong. Simply not bold/bright enough and 1.5X was too much on the bottom end. On the positive end, I did have a very nice buddy who hooked me up with another set of BUIS for the rifle. Also, I was able to trade a pistol barrel I wasn't using for a KAC 2-stage trigger to put in this lower. The real failure point for this setup came as I used it for an evening deer hunt. On my way out of the woods, I heard what I thought was probably a coyote following me. I turned and tried to shine my weak-assed headlamp on it, but could only see the reflection of eyes about 20 yds away. I tried to make out more though the scope, but it simply didn't transmit enough of the headlamp light for me to see anything. Part of this problem could've been solved if I'd had a good light on the gun too. Instead, I drew my pistol and proceeded to make my way out of the woods hoping that I wouldn't receive a sneak attack from behind. (I didn't).
The other thing that I learned from this setup was that the Lightweight barrel was going to be more of an accuracy issue than I though. I shot some groups at 100 with it and with Black Hills 75gr match, 1.7 was the best the gun would shoot. So I began again to consider a barrel swap.
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_9869.jpg
Time ticked on. I sold the KAC trigger and replaced it with a Geissele SSA-E to match the one in my MK18 lower. I sold another third Leupold off a .22. I also sold the Leupold MK4. My son was born!:D I got some Christmas money and around that time Cabela's had a super sale on their Zeiss Conquest scopes so I grabbed one and figured I could make it pull double duty between the AR and the .22. I also decided to go back with the simplicity of the Aimpoint. I bought back an M2 cheap from a buddy that I had sold him a few years ago. I managed to make the dual-optic setup sort-of work by swapping the two back and forth. I really liked the way the gun felt and worked with the Aimpoint, but felt like I had a redundant setup to my MK18.
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_1182.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_1180.jpg
Sandy Hook had happened and things were in full panic mode. I had a complete upper and some other spare parts sitting around, so I decided to build them up and see what they would bring. I included the M2 with that rifle and managed a tidy profit. Part of that went to replacing the M2 with another T1 and also paying for a great deal I got on a used M4-2000 suppressor (enter the dilemma of the lightweight barrel again). I figured I could kill two birds with one stone and get a heavier, stiffer barrel for less POI shift with the suppressor. My hope was also that the heavier barrel would dissipate heat better and make for a more accurate rifle. Knowing that I was going to mount a suppressor and that my muzzle device would have to stay on the gun in order to mount the suppressor, I figured why not go shorter and perm the mount.
I pulled the DD LW barrel and sold it for enough to buy a PSA/FN CHF 14.7" Socom profile barrel plus a new gas tube and BCM Low Profile block. I didn't feel that just the set screws holding the gas block to the barrel was enough so I also bought the BRDE pinning jig. Man, I have to say I was very nervous about drilling through a brand new barrel, but the jig did its job and held everything nice and straight. After drilling, I used a 2/0 reamer to taper the hole and installed a 5/8" taper pin. It went a lot smoother and easier than I thought it would and I'm really glad I did it. It's now another thing I can do myself when custom-building AR's. After I re-assembled the upper, I took it to my local shop to have the 51-tooth AAC FH mount perm'd. The final piece of the puzzle was deciding that the dual-optic setup was more of a hassle than I wanted and I still wanted some magnification. I managed to trade the second T-1 plus a little bit of cash for a TA11 in a Larue mount. The TA11 is larger than the TA33 I had but it also has a much better FOV. The reticle seems larger and more useable with the windage hash marks. Even with going to the heaver barrel, the rifle still balances right about at the magwell. It feels really good and has all the features I wanted in an "Outside" rifle.
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_2050.jpg
http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab104/ASH556/IMG_2043.jpg