What was your first Ar and how did you like it? [Archive]

Alaskapopo

04-03-09, 02:18

My first AR was a Colt Match Target A2 style upper with a 20 inch barrel it had a 1/9 twist barrel no chrome. I bought it when I was in college back in 1996. Before that the only semi auto rifles I had owned were AK's and a Mini 14. I was blown away by the awesome accuracy of the AR. I tried to match the Delta HBar look that at the time was considered cool. I put a cheek piece on the stock and a lame rubberized tasco 3-9 scope on it. Surprisingly the gun shot very very well at .75 moa with match ammo.

Here is a pic of a similar rifle.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g299/355sigfan/delta.jpg

I became hooked on AR after that.

What was your experience.
Pat

Kimbo

04-03-09, 02:24

My first rifle was a M16A2 issued to me in Boot Camp back in 2004.

Alaskapopo

04-03-09, 02:34

My first rifle was a M16A2 issued to me in Boot Camp back in 2004.]
Thanks for your service to our country. Too bad you could not keep that gun when you got out.
Pat

Kimbo

04-03-09, 03:54

Yep a Burst option would be nice on my current build :D

jtb0311

04-03-09, 07:50

Mine was M16A2 service rifle, serial number 6342080, MCRD San Diego, November 1993. :)

I don't have a picture.

kry226

04-03-09, 07:59

My first rifle was a M16A2 issued to me in Boot Camp back in 2004.

My first was, get this, an FN manufactured M16A2 issued at Sand Hill, Fort Benning in 1995. Had to give it back. It had the roughest, toughest, most un-user friendly safety selector switch in the world. It took every ounce I had to switch from safe to fire. Being a young 20 year old kid, I never knew it wasn't supposed to be that way and consequently never said anything to the armorer about it. Actually, even if I had known, I was too scared to say much unless I was spoken to directly anyway.

First one I personally owned was a post-ban A2 model Bushmaster XM15-E2S. No bayonet lug, no flash suppressor with heavy barrel and target crown, and an un-shrouded semi BCG. It had an excellent trigger, was very accurate, and it came with the silliest 10 round USGI mag in the world. It was a 30 rounder that had the middle section cut out with the two ends riveted back together to create a smaller mag that only held 10 rounds. But I loved that rifle anyway.

nsabjg

04-03-09, 08:30

My first AR was a M16.

Mr.Goodtimes

04-03-09, 08:56

my first AR was and still is, a spikes 16in upper on a cmmg lower. i did my own trigger job, and its commin together quite well. Minus a supressor, after instal my LT 7.0 and magpul trigger guard, ittl be done. Im gonna put either an E-MOD on or a UBR down the road to replace the modstock i currently have.

Spade

04-03-09, 08:58

Hell may as well jump on the band wagon. M16A2 from MCRD in 1999. On the personal side of the line my firs was the N4 & I love it.

MarshallDodge

04-03-09, 09:15

The first one I had was a Sendra Corp SP1 clone that my Dad bought around 1985. We were in a gun shop when he saw it and decided to buy it. I was only 14 at the time but it hung on the gunrack in my bedroom. All of my friends would come over and :eek:

I really liked shooting it and enjoyed taking it apart to clean it. The insides of the gun and how everything went together always intrigued me.

After I graduated high school, my folks had some financial troubles and he gave it to me for helping repair one of their cars. It was a nice gesture but I think he had lost interest in the gun and just figured that was a good excuse to give it to me.

I sold it later on to fund a varmint AR build and gave some of the proceeds back to my folks. There are times when I wish I kept it.

decodeddiesel

04-03-09, 09:24

Hell may as well jump on the band wagon. M16A2 from MCRD in 1999. On the personal side of the line my firs was the N4 & I love it.

Yup another band wagon jumper except I can truthfully say the first AR Uncle Sam put into my hands was a shinny new Colt M4 Carbine at 19K OSUT in Ft. Knox in 1998. Remember the primary weapon system for a 19K (M1 Tanker) is an M9 supplemented by M4s (smaller, fit in vehicles better than M16A2 long bows). I actually shot the M9 a lot in OSUT (Basic). Anyway I loved that M4, but never shot it as well with iron sights as I did the M16A2.

I never really had much of an urge to own an AR while I was in the Military, especially once I changed MOS's and went to Ft. Campbell. Trust me I got more than enough trigger time on an M4 to fill my needs. My first civilian AR was the LMT Defender I have now which I purchased about 9 months after I ETS'd and started missing the weapon. Needless to say I love it just as much as that Colt in 1998, and the M4 which I had in the 101st.

cathellsk

04-03-09, 10:19

My first was a Colt AR15A2 (don't remember the exact name Colt uses) 20" Govn't profile barrel with factory .22LR conversion bolt bought new in '91. A year later got my first .mil one, a Colt M16A1 in Basic at Ft. Sill, OK.

JimmyB62

04-03-09, 10:34

I bought it new in 1986. It was an AR15 Sporter II. It was made during the Colt strike and had some assembly issues but it ran OK during the few times i shot it. I sold it about 7-8 years ago to a collector.

sandman99and9

04-03-09, 10:55

My first was, get this, an FN manufactured M16A2 issued at Sand Hill, Fort Benning in 1995. Had to give it back. It had the roughest, toughest, most un-user friendly safety selector switch in the world. It took every ounce I had to switch from safe to fire. Being a young 20 year old kid, I never knew it wasn't supposed to be that way and consequently never said anything to the armorer about it. Actually, even if I had known, I was too scared to say much unless I was spoken to directly anyway.

First one I personally owned was a post-ban A2 model Bushmaster XM15-E2S. No bayonet lug, no flash suppressor with heavy barrel and target crown, and an un-shrouded semi BCG. It had an excellent trigger, was very accurate, and it came with the silliest 10 round USGI mag in the world. It was a 30 rounder that had the middle section cut out with the two ends riveted back together to create a smaller mag that only held 10 rounds. But I loved that rifle anyway.

Ahhh, sand hill, that brings back some memories. I was there in '94 I had a m16a2 also. One of my drill sgts transfered out halfway through the training cycle. I ran into him a few weeks later at airborne school, he ran my ass into the ground !!! lol

Here is my first personally owned ar I bought in january 09
http://i478.photobucket.com/albums/rr147/sandman99and9/003-Copy.jpg

s.m.

kwelz

04-03-09, 11:13

Mine was a Colt HBAR 20 inch, A2, 1/7 Twist. It was a post ban model but I still regret ever getting rid of it. I only paid 750 for it back in 1999/2000

Sam

04-03-09, 12:18

1st. Olympic Arms CAR 15 (1990) - Not very reliable, fragile (some piece is broken every 300 - 400 rounds). I liked the way it looked like the old XM177E2.

2nd. Bushmaster 16" carbine (late 90s) - Got rid of the Oly and got the Bushy. It was a "banned" era gun, so it had the faux retractable stock and the obnoxious Mini Y comp. But at least it was 100% reliable the entire time I had it. Took my first Ken Hackathorn class with the gun. I was still "old school" and stuck with the fixed carry handle.

3rd. Rock River M4 (after AWB sunset) - Upgraded from the Bushy to a slightly modern upper with the semi raised rail, RRA called it the UTE (Ultimate Tactical Entry). Bought my first Aimpoint ML2 that I'm still using today. The RRA had a heavy barrel profile under the handguard and with weaponlight and optics, that sucker was heavy. It was 100% reliable and even taken a few classes with the gun (Paul Howe, Dave Harrington and another Hackathorn)

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/17880Pentagon_002.jpg

I eventually replaced the upper with a true flat top from RRA, but it still had the heavy barrel.

Kept that a few years and when I got tired of the weight, I decided to have a local dealer build a lightweight upper in 2007.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/17880DD_002.jpg

It had a CMT upper with Bushmaster 16" Superlight barrel and folding front sight. The builder put a Daniel Defense Lite Rail on it, boy was that a light gun. It was 100% reliable even though had all kind of mismatched components from various manufacturers.
Even played with a variable scope for a short time, it was a Millett DMS.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/17880Optics.jpg

That made the gun real heavy and defeated my original purpose of having a light gun.

I decided to get an SBR upper in 2008 before the government turned "soft socialist". So the old RRA lower went into form 1 and added the LMT 10.5". Got a good deal on an Aimpoint T-1 and DD-Omega rail from fellow M4C members and also added a Magpul MOE stock. Although the picture showed an earlier Surefire M73 rail and standard stock.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/T-1_002.jpg

Came back from the SHOT show this year with the Daniel Defense M4. Sold the lightweight upper to a member here.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/m4_006.jpg

HES

04-03-09, 12:25

My first was an M16A2 issued to me at Harmony Church (no Sand Hill Starship sissy stuff for me ;) ) at Ft. Benning in 1988. My first personal AR was a Colt 6920 I bought in February 2008.

Combat_Diver

04-03-09, 13:20

My first issued AR was an H&R M16A1 issued to me in OSUT Ft Leonard Wood, Mo in 1983. My first issued to me from 5th SFGA was a Colt XM16E1 in 84'. I owned several Mausers, 1903s and M1s before I got the itch for my own AR. Found an SGW reciever and put this together in 88'. It was 100% reliable for all the years I had it. We still had a few orginials in the arms room which were the cats meow when finning underwater (your leg does bump into the 20" bbl of an A1)

http://www.hunt101.com/data/548/9809XM177E1.jpg

CD

kry226

04-03-09, 13:28

My first was an M16A2 issued to me at Harmony Church (no Sand Hill Starship sissy stuff for me ;) ) at Ft. Benning in 1988. My first personal AR was a Colt 6920 I bought in February 2008.

Ooh...Touche, my friend. :D

LittleRedToyota

04-03-09, 13:34

my first was an issued M16A1. i loved it...i was 18 and had a real M16 (after having grown up playing with toy M16s)...what was there not to love. ;)

first personally owned was a DPMS 16" A2 style carbine. like it OK, but quickly realized i wanted a flat-top and did not particularly want a DPMS.

ARx3

04-03-09, 13:36

My first AR was a Colt SP1 bought by my brother in 1972. He sold it to me in 1974 so he could by a Corvette. One of the few weapons I wish I had never sold.:(

DMR

04-03-09, 13:52

1984 Harmony Church C-10-2.

H&R M-16 with three pong flash suppressor and overstamped A1. Then A2's and finaly M-4s in 2000.:mad:

First personal built off a Model1Sales kit and a RRA lower:o still have it....

Beat Trash

04-03-09, 14:37

My first was an M16A1 issued at MCRD Paris Island in 1983.

My first one that I got to keep was a used Colt SP1. It was in like new condition. Sold it off around 1989 when short on cash. Wish I still had it.

It was replaced by a Colt 6601 H-Bar 20" gun. Sold it off to have spending money on homey moon. Should have kept the rifle and stayed single.

Next one was a used, but unfired Colt 6520. Bought it around 1995, private purchase, no paper work. Still got this one, no intention of ever letting it go.

Last few years I have gotten the Colt 6920 bug. Bought one for each member of the household, before the prices went through the roof! They will stay in the family...

Obiwan

04-03-09, 14:41

I had a mid-length RRA carbine

I had no complaints...must have been one of their good years:D

ballistic

04-03-09, 14:51

First AR was a Colt SP1 Carbine. I sold it to a co-worker to fund a 6721 Carbine. It was a great KISS carbine, very lightweight and less muzzle-heavy than the 6721. Wish I still had it, you never forget your first...

CHoffman

04-03-09, 15:23

My first was also like many a Colt M16A1 converted to A2 specs. I liked it when I was firing it but when the Drill Sergeants make you hold it out in front of you at arms length then extended over your head and back again for what seems like hours its a wonder I even own one now :D .

mmike87

04-03-09, 15:48

I don't want to talk about it. I hadn't visited this site and received any "education" yet.

But the fit and finish were excellent. :o

warpigM-4

04-03-09, 17:33

Colt sporter lightweight in 89 loved it but it did jam up a few times due to lack of lube.I sold it to pay for a bad check my 1st wife wrote she was good at that:mad:

RogerinTPA

04-03-09, 17:37

1st issued AR handled was in basic training at Benning 1979. First purchased AR was a neutered Colt A2 Sporter, complete with half circle BCG, sear block, no bayonet lug back in spring of 1994. Before that, it was the Mini14 with folding stock back in 83, until trading it for the AR. As I can recall, it was a pretty decent shooter.

rat31465

04-03-09, 17:52

Got my first AR back in 1989 in a trade for a Rem 700 BDL in .30-06 Leupold vari-x II 2X7and a F.I.E. .22 Pistol.
The AR was a Colt lower with a Wilson built upper 18"SS bbl and a Burris Scope.
wanted it for a varmint rifle. It was plenty accurate for Coyotes and Crow hunting.

ROADKING

04-03-09, 19:18

My first was a Bushmaster and didnt like it, I now have a SMITH M&P15 and love it.

USMC1341

04-03-09, 20:06

My first rifle was a Colt M16a2 issued to me in 1994 MCRD San Diego. I had a couple more just like it while I was enlisted. I first had my doubts since the M14 seemed like a better all around choice to me at the time, but the black rifle proved it could do really well. I was unfortunate that every qual day I had lousy weather. Always wind, hail and or rain. My very first qual I had all three. Lucky me! Not only did shoot expert that day but every time with it there after. The gun is very dependable and it can shoot. I really found a good deal of respect for the rifle in the Corps and continue to have such rifles around my home.

mskdgunman

04-03-09, 20:18

My first AR was a Colt CAR-15 I picked up a shop in Jacksonville back in 1988 for $700. It was the first "real" rifle I ever bought for myself and I have it to this day. Granted, it's gone through some changes and the lower is now a registered SBR with a Bushmaster M-4 upper. It was the one rifle I promised myself I'd never sell and I've stuck by that. I have three others (two Bushmasters and an MGI) that I have put together but my Colt/Bushmaster is my favorite

http://www.forumjpg.com/userImages/84126800393442.jpg (http://www.forumjpg.com/clicked.asp?img=84126800393442.jpg)

MAUSER202

04-03-09, 21:43

LMT defender 2000:D

Gold Falcon

04-03-09, 22:25

My first AR was an A1 model, it belonged to my Dad and I was 5 years old. I loved shooting that weapon. I have been issued a lot of M-16s since then and a couple years ago after I left SWAT I decided to buy one to carry on duty. I got a Colt AR-15A2 with a 14.5 inch barrel, ARMS gear, an Aimpoint C2, a Tangodown grip, three point sling and a Pentagon light. It does everything I want it to do and is a joy to shoot.

Stan_TheGunNut

04-03-09, 23:02

My first one was an M16, I think an A1 model, that was issued to me in 1988 at Ft Benning (Harmony Church). I seem to recall round handguards and no brass deflector. I don't recall ever shooting it with live ammo. To qualify, they issued us new M16A2's, and after we qualified, never saw them again in basic. Once out of basic, all I was ever issued was a plain jain M16A2.

My first personally owned AR was, and still is, a Colt Sporter. I paid top dollar for it in the ban years. It shoots great. I've aquired a few others over the years, and most of the time the old Colt sits in the back of the gun safe, but I do bring it out every now and then.

Shooter7

04-03-09, 23:10

My first AR was an M16A1 issued in boot. Once I got to battalion the A2s showed up. I took mine out of the box and zeroed it on the same day.

Now I...err...my wife has an M4 that she wants to learn how to shoot.
JP

87GN

04-04-09, 00:33

My first AR was an Eagle Arms lower and a 6520 upper. I bought it the day after the ban expired. The upper was shot out and bubbasmithed. I later parted it out.

frbowers

04-04-09, 04:22

My first AR was a Colt Match Target A2 style upper with a 20 inch barrel it had a 1/9 twist barrel no chrome. I bought it when I was in college back in 1996. Before that the only semi auto rifles I had owned were AK's and a Mini 14.

My first AR was a 20" Match Target HBAR purchased in 1996 whe I was in grad school. It was my first center fire semi auto rifle and I bought it to compete in NRA high power. I had that rifle worked over by Albert Turner into a state of the art service rifle and have competed all over the country with it. I ended up going distinguished with it and making the President's Hundred twice with it, once in the top 30. Still have that rifle, but not shooting much high power these days although I plan to start again. I have a state of the art John Holliger service rifle unfired and ready to go!

Since then I've owned about two dozen different ARs, but only have about a dozen on hand right now.

Forrest

jppaul16438

04-04-09, 04:58

My 1st was a Olympic Arms PCR 15 kit built on a Olympic Arms lower.

rob_s

04-04-09, 05:50

First, bought during the ban. Bought the complete lower direct from Bushmaster through the shop I worked at, and had the complete upper shipped to me at home.

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q111/rob_s/gun%20stuff/1156789rifleleft.jpg

http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q111/rob_s/gun%20stuff/1156789rifleleft.jpg

After the ban sunset I made it all cool with an M93B stock, LMT 14.5" upper with Gemtech muzzle device, Larue 12.0 rail, Aimpoint, etc. then sold it because it was too heavy.

Honu

04-04-09, 06:02

I am old :) mine had the old triangle guards on it :)
sometime in 1980 when I got it :)

loved it wish I still had it

adrenaline151

04-04-09, 08:54

My first was Bushmaster Super Varminter, back in 2002 or so, it was heavy, gaudy, shiny, and not really what I wanted it to be. I didn't keep it long. Next was a Noveske N4 Recce Lo-Pro, and now a DDM4.

RussellAthletic

04-04-09, 08:57

I recently picked up my first AR and had the pleasure of shooting yesterday. It was tremendous fun. I own a Colt 6400C.

Garrasa

04-04-09, 11:54

I bought my first AR15 in February 09'. shot 20 rounds threw her (not much money for ammo) and i fell in love. hoping to get a LMT piston upper here soon. And in July I'll be getting an m16, compliments of the US Army.

http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w315/Garrasa/SSPX0046.jpg

Charles Daly AR15 1x7 chrome lined barrel with full magpul accessory's

Daniel defense lite rail 7.0

Troy Flip up rear sight

and a Chinese made Acog replica (pretty good knock off imo but not nearly as good as the original) I'm working towards getting either an Aimpoint M3 or EOtech 552 (haven't decided yet)

Five black Magpul windowed Pmag's on the way from Bravo USA

Failure2Stop

04-04-09, 16:23

First was an FN M16A2.

First personal AR was a 6.8 just after the sunset in 04. Me and a few friends ordered identical guns while we were deployed, picked them up when we rotated back in the winter.

I absolutely loved the gun despite the fact that I really didn't know jack about the platform other than what Uncle Sugar taught, which doesn't address many of the pitfalls of civilian builds. The gun was fine, but the ammo was virtually unobtainable. That, and the need for a personal training gun, prompted me into rebuilding the gun into a 16" middie, through which painful experience I began to truly learn the intricacies of the system, though not due to successes.

hossb7

04-04-09, 19:11

lots of pics:

got my first AR stripped lower in 2006 but sat on it for a long time deciding what to get.

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/hossb7/lower_003_1.jpg

added some color:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/hossb7/lower_001.jpg

i then got a rock river arms lower parts kit, magpul MIAD grip and magpul milspec CTR:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/hossb7/lol-1.jpg

awaiting the upper:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/hossb7/noname-1.jpg

december of '07 i ordered my upper; a CMMG 14.5" M4 upper with a troy BUIS for $687 shipped.

pics of the upper when i got it:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/hossb7/upper.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/hossb7/ar15001.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/hossb7/ar15002.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/hossb7/ar15004.jpg

i wasn't anticipating getting optics for a while but i stumbled upon a great deal on a TA33 ACOG

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/hossb7/acog1.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/hossb7/acog3.jpg

after this i went to SHOT 08 in Las Vegas and got to mess around with the then-brand new Troy Industries MRF-DI rail for carbines. needless to say i got on the waiting list as soon as i got home and ordered one when they were put on the market:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/hossb7/ar152.jpg

since then i've added some minor things like magpul rail covers, KAC VFG, a vickers sling, and a flip front cover for the acog.

here is my rifle in its current configuration:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/hossb7/Gear6.jpg

i love this rifle!

and now it begins all over again:

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/hossb7/DoubleStar.jpg

thanks for having patience! :D:D

tex45acp

04-04-09, 20:42

My first and only is a Bushmaster M4 A1 Carbine with a 16" barrel 1 to 9 twist. That is what I bought and I have changed it quite a bit to get it to this point. I plan on building my next one from scratch!!

http://i44.photobucket.com/albums/f43/mike_seale/SHTFGuns022Lg.jpg

AR-15A3

04-04-09, 23:19

I am an old AR owner too and my first former AR was a brand new Colt SP1 model R6000 I got sometime in 1971, if I remember correctly I bought it for around $200.

There were not too many ARs back then and every time I shoot mine at my gun club I let members shoot my AR and they let me shoot their rifle, so I shot a lot of different kinds of rifles.

My rifle was pretty good, no problems with it I only replaced worn firing pin retaining pins and springs, used it for about thirteen years but sold it in excellent condition and I bought a new AR-15A2 SP2 model R6500.

Wish I still had it.

bkb0000

04-04-09, 23:36

M16A2 in OSUT at Sand Hill in '00, not sure if it was FN or colt- i seem to recall wondering why there was a stupid picture of a horse on the side, so probably colt.

next was a ban build with a Bushbastard stripped lower and odd parts from unknown origins. ran great, but got tired of getting ripped on and started upgrading, which led to more building.. still haven't ever bought a complete gun to this day.

mpardun

04-05-09, 08:29

20" COLT Sporter (c. 1990)...

Sold it in 2007 to fund a POF 415...

Sold POF in 2008...now I am addicted:

SBR'd Spikes lower w/ RRA 458 SOCOM 10.5" & LMT Piston 12" on order (Sold Noveske VIS 10.5")
Charles Daly M4LE (KISS rifle w/ Black Moe furni)
Noveske N4 Recce 16" Switchblock w/ UBR (ordered Nov. '08...still wait'in)
SureFire FA556k Suppressor for all the above

g8rgunner

04-05-09, 08:33

DacoRoman

04-05-09, 10:08

First AR was a Colt Sporter back in the late 80s. I loved that gun. I sold it when I needed money to pay tuition. I've tried my best to block that day from my memory. Thanks for bringing it up, I think I'll go cry now.

We can commiserate. My first was a Colt A2 HBAR "slab side" that I picked up in 1988 I think it was. I then decided it was a good idea to sell it 3 years ago since I didn't shoot it much. Yes, bad idea.

The_War_Wagon

04-05-09, 18:23

Glad SOMEBODY had a GOOD first AR. Mine was a PWA HBAR - what, a piece, o' CRAP. :mad:

It'd only had 8 trillion rounds through it, by the time I got what was LEFT of it. Like MOST of them it had a bent firing pin (I think they actually came from the FACTORY that way), which of course led to the "acceptable malfunction (i.e. - the occasional 2 round burst! :eek:)."

Unloaded that piece o' crap at a gunshow in SC in 1993. Two words - good, riddance.

Thankfully, everything I've owned since: pre-ban Colt & Oly, DoubleStar and POF post-ban, have all been excellent! :D S&W M&P15T arrives tomorrow or Tuesday, depending upon the laden ground speed of a brown mule in motion (African, or European? ;)), so that'll give me ANOTHER model to yet check out!

103M 95G

04-05-09, 18:39

My 1st was also a PWA carbine, 16" pencil barrel, non shrouded 16 carrier, A2 upper, FSB held in place with roll pins, old style 4 position stock.
Paid $375.00 for it back in aug of '92
unknown round count, had to replace the FCG because it would malfunction sometimes. stock was changed to an A2.
been in the back of the safe for a long time.

Bighead

04-05-09, 20:14

My first AR was my issued GAU-5 at Combat Control School in 1986.

mrtim250

04-05-09, 20:41

Actually my first was a Colt M-16A1 issued to me in basic at Ft. Dix in June of 1976. Was issued several other A1's, usually had a 203 attached. Once the PSG & Plt leader on up found out I had a real knack with the 203. Carried a 16/203 for 6.5 yrs. till they wouldn't let me reenlist cause I got messed up during the whole Cuban thing in the 80's. Left active duty in 81, went to the NG and then the USAR, plus pursuing a career in LE. Had several issue weapons that shot OK, had several of my buds on the dept.that had Bushmasters, which they were more than willing to let me shoot. A few were tricked, but there wasn't a whole helluva a lot you could do back then to modify the AR. Now with all the light weight materials available, the few CAR 15/16's I saw were decent, but nothing compared to today.
First one that I got to keep was the one I recently purchased, still tricking it out. Nothing fancy, but works for me, put a mag thru it seems to shoot well, bt gotta get back in the groove of shooting. Haven't been to the range much lately, this is also the 1st M-4 config AR I've owned. Will post a photo as soon as I can dig out the camera and do a shoot--so to speak.
I'm the FNG on the forum here so thank you all, hope to be on here quite a bit. At least when I'm not at the range or on the air as a radio amateur. Till the next time, and as we say on the air 73 all.

mrtim250
W3LZK