I did a 180 on attitude towards AR15 platforms

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George Dickel

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Previously I owned 2 AR15 rifles but kept them less than a year, just couldn't warm up to them. The ones that I was issued in the Army were worn out and in need of rebuild so that created a disdain for the platform. A while back I bought another one to give it one more try and I have developed quite an interest in them. The one I bought was a flat top model with an 18" barrel and it has shown to be accurate in the limited testing I've done so far. I just started shooting in a military rifle competition at my gun club and did really well in my first match.
I never had an interest in an AR pistol, thought it was a stupid idea. After much reading and thought I believe that it is an excellent HD gun and for personal defense outside my home. I like the fact that is considered a pistol and can legally be in my car loaded as long as I have a carry permit. I bought a lower and kit that I assembled then bought an 11.5" upper form PSA with a flat top. Put a Romeo 5 on it, no brace just a buffer tube with a foam cheek piece and it shoots great. It is fun! Then I got the urge for an A2 clone, assembled another lower and my gunsmith friend built an upper for me with a 20" Krieger SS barrel. Just got it so I'm anxious to see how it performs.
I believe the AR platform has done a lot for maintaining and maybe increasing the interest in shooting by younger shooters. Despite all the "assault weapon" demonization it apparently sells quite well. There might be an A4 in my future.
 
I was never a big fan of the AR platform either until I bought one. Now I have built one and the other day expanded into the AR 10 world. It is just such a versatile platform and you can buy or build one in a variety of calibers. You can really have multiple ARs that meet many shooting needs. I am a huge fan now.
 
Got my fill in the service. They don’t appeal to me on a personal level and I’ll never agree that “everyone must own an AR15” (I don’t) but at the same time I fully acknowledge they have developed into a fully matured and superb fighting rifle with unparalleled versatility and modularity.

They don’t “do it” for me but with that said there is a reason they’re the most popular rifle in American history. But to those that say you aren’t a real patriot if you don’t own one or that owning an AR makes you some kind of tough guy minuteman sheepdog right off the bat no training required, I simply shake my head.
 
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Love my M1A and M1.

I want to hate AR's but they are just too darned good.

I feel they are the best rifle platorm available and will continue to dominate until some sort of energy weapon appears. Even then it will probably be in a AR platform.
 
I wasn't big on AR-15's either until I got to shoot a match AR-15 at a Service Rifle competition.

I still do not care for AR-15's with barrels shorter than 20".
 
Having been an Armorer when I was in the Army, I was burnt out on them. I built an XM177E2 clone right after I got out, becuase I believe every man that is legally able should own such a rifle, but when the Clinton ban came around, I brought it to a gun show and got insane money for it. I pretty much stuck to walnut and steel for quite some time, but I got a Kel-Tec SUB2000 9mm around 2000, and some friends has some other rifles, (FAL, CETME,) and some time after that AK kits were flooding the market, and since I had a couple SKS's already, I decided to build an AMD-65.
Was happy with that, but my older son wanted my .223 Axis, and his old 870 back. So I traded them for a DPMS Sportical (I had helped him pick out a good AR in his budget when he bought it.) So, I liked it, but like the OP, started reading about AR pistols, and thought they'd be handier than the CAR I built. So, I built one, a 7", which after I shot, realized was too short, but I learned a linear compensator is the minimum for short AR's. Gave that one to my younger son after I built a 10" for myself. I then gave the Sportical back to my older son, with a 840 rd. ammo can with the condition that he never get rid of it, unless for another AR.
SWMBO liked my 10" after trying all my pistols for HD, so I had to build another one for myself. I'd forgot that working on them was enjoyable. I still hate cleaning them, though.
 
I have found ARs become a lot more interesting when you deviate away from the M4 type options.

IOW, a chambering besides 223/5.56, longer barrels, fixed stocks, etc.

I also personally like fixed carry handles.

Haven’t warmed up to pistol variants yet.
 
Likewise, the Army loaned an M16 to me the last three years of the Vietnam Era; it shot and functioned very well. When I was discharged, that was that.
Not too long ago, I purchased a WC Recon 6.8; extremely accurate and functional. It is not as warm as my Sharps, levers, bolts, etc - but it is a tough format and a tack driver. It certainly has a purpose and a function.
 
I bought mine back in 2008 when Obama got elected - because I could - Ill leave it at that .

I prefer bolt actions, and other than pistols, and a 9mm carbine, don't own another semi-auto rifle other than my Ruger AR 556. It functions, I can shoot it ok, and it is pretty accurate for what it is. I can hit steel at 300, I just prefer to shoot little groups at specific distances (sometimes out to 1000) than lots of ammo up close.

That said, I am keeping it, because I have it and I can. Plus one can never tell, especially with the way things are going these days, when it may become necessary to shoot a volume of rounds at a threat that is closing in. Coyotes, killer rabbits, wild hogs if I decide to move to Texas, etc, etc, etc.

d .
 
Another retired armorer here. I also shot on our combat rifle teams way back. We couldn't sign out a weapon or ammo for practice, so I built some ARs (20" A1 style at the time). Then, I started prairie dogging and took along an AR. Olympic, back then, made the first flat top I saw. They just milled the A1 carrying handle off, left two stubs, used a long flat Weaver base inletted for the stubs and screwed on from the inside of the upper. I got one and have been flat-topping since then. Never got into shorties until just before the first ban. Built two intending to clear one and got greedy - sold them both.
So, I've been a fan ever since aftermarket parts were available. Still love my bolt guns, but a well built AR just works and shoots about as well as I can hope for. I have shortys and a couple of pistols, but the bench guns get more love from me.
 
Count me as one who thinks every gun owner should own one. Just for the simple fact it is the outermost barrier to infringements on our gun rights. The more in circulation the greater the battle will be to take them away.

AR’s are ingenious, easy to shoot, reliable, easy to maintain, accurate and cheap to afford, upgrade and shoot (in normal times)
 
I've assembled a few 16", 20 rifles. I put together an 18" stainless 6.8 spc with the bison recon barrel. Young manufacturing chrome carrier. This is midlength gas with a lo pro clamping gas block and a 10.5" handguard. (shorter than most use) It is my favorite AR these days. It just balances and carries really nice, shoots lights out. I like the 110 Hornady Black ammo.
 
I always kinda wanted one,but I have a passion for long range bolt guns,and I didn't think a rifle patterned off a battle rifle could ever be accurate enough to be any fun.I bought mine back in 2010 when the local coyote population started getting out of hand.I thought one with a collapsable stock would fit in the tractor cab nicely,and be good for what I wanted to do,and the mag capacity would be good if I got one going out in the open fields.A local Deputy was given an upgrade by the county and he advertised the one I got for sale.I called him and he brought the gun and one mag full of ammo and told me to shoot it over the weekend,and he said I should shoot all the ammo before I made my decision.He had a Vortex red dot on it and I shot it on that Sundaywhile I was on the second date with my wife.I was beyond impressed with the accuracy,2 inch groups at 100 yards with just the red dot and economy ammo.I put a Leupold Mark-AR on it,and it's the one I grab when I need something fast.No way I would want to be without one.
 
I didn’t get it either until I got to shoot one. It was accurate and I had no trouble hitting clays on a 100 yard berm even though I’d never used one before. The pistols are too loud for me, but maybe a 10.5” barrel would be ok.
 
When I got out of the Guard in 1976, SP1s were abundant and cheap. Really liked shooting the brandy new Colt the Army gave me in 1970, but just couldn't get excited about an SP1.
Then came the Clinton ban, and of course, I wanted one.
Some years after the ban sunsetted, got NOS Colt upper and furniture, and a NoDak lower; built an M16A1 clone, like the one I was issued (happy switch notwithstanding).
Really shook me up; I'd been a much younger man the last time I held one.
Can't imagine how it would feel to guys who ran thru' the jungle with one.
Great rifle, and fun to shoot.
Moon
 
I was pretty late to the party getting my first AR at the age of 42 or so! But I quickly came to appreciate the strengths of the design and the things it does well.
 
You got it Tommy, figured someone would. Brave Knights don't Retreat :)

As for an AR, now that I have one, and so does my son, we have them.

As I said I can hit steel, at 300 with it that's good enough for me with that platform, even after putting in a better trigger, I still cant do better than about 1.5 MOA with mine at 100. That is plenty good enough for the "Killer Rabbits" but maybe I will load up some 69 gr and 75 grains to see how it does with those. 1 in 7 twist shouldn't have any issue with stabilizing them. Maybe I just need to find the right load for it, TBH, I never really worked one up.

d
 
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