M16/M4/AR15 VS Other. Are we making rational decisions?
I was helping AI a Hackathorn class this weekend and was listening to Ken talk AK's and the fact that they DO fail and break. This discussion coupled with some recent threads makes me wonder what the thought process is that people go through when making purchase decisions.
One of the things I constantly see and deal with as a firearms dealer is people setting up AR's for what they do 10% of the time (totally ignoring the other 90%). I am not sure why people do this, but it is nearly impossible to set them straight and get them to think about the "BIG PICTURE."
Example, guy wants an AR for HD, Training and Varmint shooting. The HD and Training part occupy the MAJORITY of the time spent with the gun, but yet wants a 20" HBAR in SS. He does not realize that this AR will be VERY heavy and long and he won't like holding it all day in a 9 hour carbine class.
This leads me to the next problem. The PERCEIVED limitations of one type of gun will make people buy or use one gun over another. Case in point, buyer is concerned about the AR15 being reliable when "dirty." So he purchases an AK/AUG/Piston AR/ETC as he believes that this is the more reliable gun. There is just one problem with this logic. An AR15 that is "dirty", but lubed properly WILL RUN for thousands and thousand of rounds.
So the question is, what situation do people think they are going to be in that they are going to fire their AR for so many rounds that it quits running????
Having spent lots of time talking to Active Duty Tier 1 and Tier 2 types, their common mag load out CAN BE 6 mags and NO pistol mag reload. Yet, we see Civy's at training classes carrying 12 mags on their chest rig. :confused:
Point to all of this is do not let PERCEIVED limitations get in the way of rational thinking. Look at the WHOLE picture (accuracy, weight, cost, size, aftermarket parts, configurability, factory spare parts, magazine availability and cost, ammunition cost and armorer support) before making your choice for a defensive tool.
C4
Re: M16/M4/AR15 VS Other. Are we making rational decisions?
I'm no tier one operator and I did not stay at a holiday inn last night, but I'm pretty sure they load out light because their mission dictates not needing it.
I've seen many infantry units from various services roll out with 12-15 mags each, as many as 7 on armor and the rest in a backpack. Again, mission dictates. They will be out and about longer on patrols and such while special operations are often inserted and extracted for very specific objectives from what I've seen.
Re: M16/M4/AR15 VS Other. Are we making rational decisions?
Quote:
Originally Posted by
signkutter
I for one cant understand the arrogant mentality some people have that makes them discount and disparage any opinion that isn't lock-step with their own.
Only an arrogant self serving idiot would start attempting to quantify your likes/dislikes in percentages or evaluate and dismiss your preferences by their standards.
Some people that have been trained in a certain system and have alot invested in the said system can be irrationally hostile to any kind of deviation from their SOP and methods.
Like you, I have enough personal experience and training to make my own decisions in confidence. It just irks me a bit when blowhards have to start dropping personal insults, distorting positions and start counting off how many "carbine courses" they have taken blah blah blah...just because a person does not agree with them lock step. I am a Firearms instructor, I train/qualify pistol/M4/UMP/shotgun. I have mentioned it when blowhards question my credibility... but I have never flashed credentials in order to denigrate or discount anybody's chosen weapon system. It is really repulsive to see industry professionals do so.
Considering who started the thread... how very passive aggressive of you.
Where's my popcorn at?
On topic, I definitely train for the 1%. My 1% is deploying with an M4 to some 3rd world country in SWA. My 90% is home defense and the last 9% or so is shooting for fun. My training is actually grossly disproportionate for the 1% since it's the time where I'll most likely need to actually employ the weapon in a life or death situation. But it makes up a tiny tiny tiny percentage of my actual use and handling of the AR platform.