I had a 20" Sabre Defense rifle with A2 sights (they don't take batteries, and they won't likely break. The 20" barrel allowed me to really reach out there. The FSC-556 compensator suppressed flash as well as muzzle-rise pretty darn well without being too "blasty".
This was the perfect "oh shit" rifle, as I proved to myself time and time again by kneeling and firing 2-3MOA 5-shot groups at 100 yards with M855 (really, not bad with a USGI profile barrel and A2 sights and M855).
Yep. This was THE configuration...until my budget increased. Then I ordered the same thing, except in A4. I was going to put an ACOG on it. The military used them to shoot Hadji at 800 yards, and the BDC would help me connect! (I have only been to Mexico, never outside of the US).
I also bought a Surefire 3-cell combat light (MX7 something) and a KAC rail. Because that was good enough for the military. Good enough for me.
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Times change, I matured (some), and now I have these:
My primary use is plinking and home-defense, I take them in the car with me and one rides in the passenger seat sometimes (legal with CWP in the states I travel in). I have been to multiple carbine courses not with these, yet, but similar configurations, and they did me a solid. Even my RDS that will die in a decade without new batteries...even my 10.5 and 16.1" barrels that don't give me near that range. They somehow manage to do just what I ask of them, and probably would work well in my rich fantasy life as a bulletproof ninja, as well. I just built them up for the real world.
Great post/topic/it took a lot of time and money to see it "your" way.
http://i43.tinypic.com/zvcy05.jpg