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Thread: Why are my smartest AR builds ones I dream up for other people?

  1. #11
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    Probably because for other people, you have a more honest and objective idea of what their actual use for the rifle is, and you stick to what is necessary to accomplish it. If you are like most of us, you are a bit of a gear whore... there is always the temptation when you see something cool to FIND a use for it, instead of letting mission dictate equipment.
    "This motto may adorn their tombs
    (Let tyrants come and view):
    We rather seek these silent rooms
    Than live as slaves to you."

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  2. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by Dead Man View Post
    What do you need your $6,000 rifle to do that it doesn't do?
    One hell of a question.

    I still wish it was smaller (like my Mk18 type SBR) and/or lighter (like my 16" LW Middy Daytime Carbine). Or I wish it was a bit more precise, like my 18" 5.56 and 7.62 rifles - in short, I'm about out of legitimate complaints, but it took me a lot of iterations where I'd have my 'ideal' carbine of carbines not do many things well.

    hensch nailed the rest of it pretty much, it's so hard to be objective about what actual use I have for a tool when there's so many shiny things I can add which aren't called for.


    [eta] FWIW, my obsession with making an improved DMR has probably led to a lot of what in retrospect was poor decision making, but I've finally figured out that it's truly possible to work out a better mousetrap in that regard.
    Last edited by TehLlama; 04-21-14 at 23:59.
    عندما تصبح الأسلحة محظورة, قد يملكون حظرون عندهم فقط
    کله چی سلاح منع شوی دی، یوازي غلوونکۍ یی به درلود
    Semper Fi
    "Being able to do the basics, on demand, takes practice. " - Sinister

  3. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by TehLlama View Post
    One hell of a question.

    I still wish it was smaller (like my Mk18 type SBR) and/or lighter (like my 16" LW Middy Daytime Carbine). Or I wish it was a bit more precise, like my 18" 5.56 and 7.62 rifles - in short, I'm about out of legitimate complaints, but it took me a lot of iterations where I'd have my 'ideal' carbine of carbines not do many things well.

    hensch nailed the rest of it pretty much, it's so hard to be objective about what actual use I have for a tool when there's so many shiny things I can add which aren't called for.


    [eta] FWIW, my obsession with making an improved DMR has probably led to a lot of what in retrospect was poor decision making, but I've finally figured out that it's truly possible to work out a better mousetrap in that regard.
    Post pictures of your and your wife's rifles! I'm curious.


    In my opinion, a do it all carbine would be a 14.5" elw kmr bcm upper with a mini4 suppressor, vortex 1-4 in aero precision base, and a x300 with tape switch. Throw in some buis and vcas sling and call it a day. Use whatever lower, BAD and Geissele parts, A5, STR and K2 furniture.
    Last edited by Koshinn; 04-22-14 at 00:26.
    "I never learned from a man who agreed with me." Robert A. Heinlein

  4. #14
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    Good thread, and a lesson I had to learn the hard way.

    For example, at this point I have no good place to shoot out past 200 meters regularly. For this reason the bolt gun, and the SS barreled AR upper went bye bye. At this point I have 2nd lower sitting in my safe with no upper because I just can't figure out/justify spending $1000-$1500 for another upper that might be able to do what my SBR does from 0-200 meters marginally better. My only thought is a gun that could travel across state lines on a road trip, but I have a 5.56 AK-101 clone that fills that role nicely. I can't really afford to have any strictly range toys at this point, but I am considering liquidating part of my collection to buy a SCAR and/or a can knowing it would probably be a glorified range toy.

  5. #15
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    Part of the problem is accepting when a part is good enough. A heavier profile match barrel is known to be more consistent but it's advantage over a standard or light profile barrel isn't apparent until getting involved in competition shooting bughole groups way out yonder. A variable scope helps with target identification at a distance but an Aimpoint works very well out to 300 yards and shines inside 100.

    I think we get caught up in the equipment race. Like you said in post #12, it's easy to get distracted by shiny things. But the reality is, the KISS AR is really the smartest do-all configuration. It's just not the coolest- or the shiniest.

    Here's my do-all carbine. The only thing I need to do to use it in a precision role is to swap the sights and maybe switch to a free float tube. It's just another AR. Nothing spectacular, nothing special. It works but it's boring


    Between these two rifles, I think I've got just about everything covered that I want an AR to do. I could probably just stick with the 16" carbine by installing a FF tube and swapping the sights around but I want the flatter trajectory the added velocity of the 20" barrel gives
    Last edited by MistWolf; 04-22-14 at 13:47.
    INSIDE PLAN OF BOX
    1. ROAD-RUNNER LIFTS GLASS OF WATER- PULLING UP MATCH
    2. MATCH SCRATCHES ON MATCH-BOX
    3. MATCH LIGHTS FUSE TO TNT
    4. BOOM!
    5. HA-HA!!

    -WILE E. COYOTE, AUTHOR OF "EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW IN LIFE, I LEARNED FROM GOLDBERG & MURPHY"

    http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/AR%20Carbine/DSC_0114.jpg
    I am American

  6. #16
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    My wife bricked my good 32GB SD card, so I'll have pictures once I work around that...

    So far, I'm really amused/impressed with just how much M4C type rifles have convergent evolution going on with layout and functionality - they're still different visually, but all the key hardware is hilariously similar, with only a couple good layouts for each intended role.
    عندما تصبح الأسلحة محظورة, قد يملكون حظرون عندهم فقط
    کله چی سلاح منع شوی دی، یوازي غلوونکۍ یی به درلود
    Semper Fi
    "Being able to do the basics, on demand, takes practice. " - Sinister

  7. #17
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    Quote Originally Posted by TehLlama View Post
    My wife bricked my good 32GB SD card, so I'll have pictures once I work around that...

    So far, I'm really amused/impressed with just how much M4C type rifles have convergent evolution going on with layout and functionality - they're still different visually, but all the key hardware is hilariously similar, with only a couple good layouts for each intended role.
    Which key hardware?
    "I never learned from a man who agreed with me." Robert A. Heinlein

  8. #18
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    Posted before, but this is my KISS carbine that gets 95% of the AR work I do now. Noveske lower with Geissele SSA trigger, BCM 14.5" LW Middy with Aimpoint H1, 600 Scout light and VCAS sling. The BAD lever is gone now, but otherwise the build has remained in stasis since I put it together. It's light, accurate, fast to use and maneuver in tight confines.

    What if this whole crusade's a charade?
    And behind it all there's a price to be paid
    For the blood which we dine
    Justified in the name of the holy and the divine…

  9. #19
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    Quote Originally Posted by glocktogo View Post
    Posted before, but this is my KISS carbine that gets 95% of the AR work I do now. Noveske lower with Geissele SSA trigger, BCM 14.5" LW Middy with Aimpoint H1, 600 Scout light and VCAS sling. The BAD lever is gone now, but otherwise the build has remained in stasis since I put it together. It's light, accurate, fast to use and maneuver in tight confines.

    That's almost identical to my girl's AR.
    Jack Leuba
    Director, Military and Government Sales
    Knight's Armament Company
    jleuba@knightarmco.com

  10. #20
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    Quote Originally Posted by Koshinn View Post
    Which key hardware?
    I'd say-
    16" government profile barrel, 1:7, chrome lined, /FSB
    Quality bolt
    Full auto carrier w/staked gas key
    Forged upper & lower receivers
    Standard trigger
    Milspec carbine RE
    H2 Buffer
    Adjustable stock
    MOE handguard
    BUIS
    Sling

    Common Variations
    Government/M4/Pencil profiles or HBar profile
    10.5 - 11.5" barrel, 16" barrel or 18" barrel. Sometimes 20" barrel
    Stainless steel or chrome lined chromoly barrel
    1:7 or 1:8 twist
    FSB or low profile gas block
    MOE handgaurds or FF tube
    Milspec or A5 RE
    RDS or variable scope
    Standard trigger or G trigger
    Weapon light
    A2 flash suppressor or compensator/hybrid muzzle device
    Last edited by MistWolf; 04-22-14 at 16:41.
    INSIDE PLAN OF BOX
    1. ROAD-RUNNER LIFTS GLASS OF WATER- PULLING UP MATCH
    2. MATCH SCRATCHES ON MATCH-BOX
    3. MATCH LIGHTS FUSE TO TNT
    4. BOOM!
    5. HA-HA!!

    -WILE E. COYOTE, AUTHOR OF "EVERYTHING I NEEDED TO KNOW IN LIFE, I LEARNED FROM GOLDBERG & MURPHY"

    http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n289/SgtSongDog/AR%20Carbine/DSC_0114.jpg
    I am American

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