AR fads

[SpeedAKL]

I've been into ARs for several years now. After watching arfcom as well as the broader gun community for several years I have concluded that AR nuts have a tendency to fall for fads.

Before continuing, please note that the commentary below does not reflect on the quality of any of the guns or parts mentioned, rather it is aimed at the consumer tendencies that drive some of their sales.

The AR-15 user community has gone through enough fashion/fad waves at this point to resemble the women who ditch their entire wardrobe after one season. Take gun configurations: first everyone had to have an M4 clone. Then everyone had to have a 6.8 SPC. Then every had to have a KISS carbine. Then everyone had to have a Mk.12 SPR. Then everyone had to have a Navy SEAL Recon Rifle. Then every had to have a Mk.18 CQBR clone with a suppressor. Then everyone had to have a super-short SBR with a Noveske KX3 muzzle brake. Then everyone had to have a midlength. Then everyone had to have a piston gun.

Or take brands. First everyone wanted Bushmaster, then Colt, then RRA, then LMT, then Noveske, now BCM. How about accessories: everyone rushed out to slap an Aimpoint/EOTech up top, then an ACOG, then a suppressor, then a OPS or Noveske muzzle brake, then a trick flash suppressor, then an Aimpoint T1 or Mini Acog (mounted on the side like the 3-gun guys do it), then had to have ARMS everything, then Magpul everything, then KAC everything, then VLTOR everything, now LaRue everything.

Again, I am not questioning the quality or usability of any of the products above. What I am questioning is the need to blow $1,000+ every few months or trade a perfectly good gun on the latest "cool" AR product just because everyone else on AR15.Com is doing it. That gets expensive.

 

[NetJunkie]

Sometimes it's fad..sometimes it's just that new product/technologies hit the market. New brands with better quality hit so people move that way. A lot of AR owners own multiple guns..so it's not a fad...it's just adding new variations. You couldn't buy a good piston two years ago..now there are a few good options. Suppressor tech has gotten a lot better recently..things like that.

Or are we just trying to bash AR owners again?

 

[Hatterasguy]

Its fashion, fashion.

 

[SpeedAKL]

Sometimes it's fad..sometimes it's just that new product/technologies hit the market. New brands with better quality hit so people move that way. A lot of AR owners own multiple guns..so it's not a fad...it's just adding new variations. You couldn't buy a good piston two years ago..now there are a few good options. Suppressor tech has gotten a lot better recently..things like that.

Or are we just trying to bash AR owners again?

I'm an AR owner myself, I enjoy the platform and would eventually like to own several guns.

 

[Pony Express]

I own an AR but I don't have the money to trick it out. Most of my "Gun money" goes to buying ammo for all of my guns.

I hear ya on the fads, but I don't really see a problem with it. Like NetJunkie said

sometimes it's just that new product/technologies hit the market

 

[R.W.Dale]

I've been into ARs for several years now. After watching arfcom as well as the broader gun community for several years I have concluded that AR nuts have a tendency to fall for fads.

It's not just ar guys. I got called everything but a white guy when I dared suggest that the all things 1911 all the time ALL UP IN YOUR FACE fashion from the past few years was just that a fad. A couple three years out and how long's it been since a new MFGR introduced their own 1911

 

[happygeek]

How about the fad where everyone gets together and starts seriously pushing to get that stupid 86 law repealed, that way we can get real M4s?

 

[ninjaj448]

What SpeedAKL said.

I let my Colt AR-15 go when Clinton was in office. It had all the evil stuff like bayonet lugs and 30 round mags. I did get about double what I paid (I think it was $615 new) but still wish I would have hung onto it. Still have the in-the-box manual, though - so I rememise from time to to time.

JoeN

 

[Zerodefect]

I want a bayonette that firs a 16" carbine. I know it would have to be huge, but I'm cool with that.

Then im going to fit a bullhorn and taperecorder to my rails that way I can play the mighty "12 gauge racking" sound to scare off intruders.

 

[GPWASR10]

I suggest you real about what the platform is good at, what the round is good at, and what YOU want it for, then build that config. Do a process of elimination of the stuff that is out there.

 

[dscottw88]

I agree, people change things. But wouldn't that be called preference? I bought an Eotech, but now I'm wanting an aimpoint because I feel it is more reliable. Does this mean I fall into a fad?

Or I'm in the process of building up a SBR with a can on it, I feel this would make a great Home Defense rifle, does that mean I've fallen into a fad? I see what you're saying, and I understand that a lot of people do get caught up in getting the coolest thing out there. But I feel that there is a reason behind it. An M4 clone is much more easy to configure and cater to a person than a KISS rifle. That alone would compell me to purchase an M4 clone rifle as my first AR and than go from there. And Buying an ACOG isn't a fad if it really is a huge improvement over other optics out there. Not all new things are great, but often newer is better because we learn from a product's mistakes or short comings. With that said, I don't and can't afford to blow $1000 every couple months. I'm just trying to make sure I get quality products on my rifles in the event I would ever have to rely on one.

 

[benEzra]

The AR-15 user community has gone through enough fashion/fad waves at this point to resemble the women who ditch their entire wardrobe after one season. Take gun configurations: first everyone had to have an M4 clone. Then everyone had to have a 6.8 SPC. Then every had to have a KISS carbine. Then everyone had to have a Mk.12 SPR. Then everyone had to have a Navy SEAL Recon Rifle. Then every had to have a Mk.18 CQBR clone with a suppressor. Then everyone had to have a super-short SBR with a Noveske KX3 muzzle brake. Then everyone had to have a midlength. Then everyone had to have a piston gun.

I think this probably describes a very, very small set of the AR-owning community. The AR-15 platform is the most popular centerfire rifle in America, but I dare say most of those sold are fairly standard configurations. There has certainly been a move toward flattops, 16" barrels, and adjustable stocks over the years, but I doubt the other stuff rises to the level of "fad" given the low numbers involved.

 

[Z-Michigan]

I don't think the "fads" have been any but a tiny fraction of the AR community. The only enduring "Fad" I see is the popularity of M4 profile barrels on 16" civilian guns that will never in their lives have a grenade launcher mounted to them.

 

[Dr.Rob]

Just in the past 10 years, AR's were relatively a rare sight at the range now EVERYONE has one, and the M-4 look seems the most popular.

That forward vertical grip is about useless off a shooting bench.

 

[Hatterasguy]

Well they are good rifles. They are light, easy to shoot and pretty accurite. I would think a lot of new shooters probably find them comfortable to shoot since the recoil is very light.


OTOH its hard to resist poking at them once in awhile, all in good fun of course.

 

[adobewalls]

I don't know about the rest of you, but I grew up playing with Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs, Legos and Erector sets.

For me the AR is just a continuation.

 

[bill larry]

I thought the AR-15 WAS the fad?

<ducking>

 

[Kman]

Bill Larry, LOL! It is! though it does have it's uses when chambered in a better cartridge.

 

[mshootnit]

I firmly believe that the next fad in AR's is that guys are going to go back to 20" A3 uppers with carry handle. I really believe that. Like when surfers went back to the long board.

 

[cbrgator]

Bill Larry, LOL! It is! though it does have it's uses when chambered in a better cartridge.

Please no caliber war.

 

[801sureshot]

Bought a RRA in case the oversized rodents rise up! Seriously though I enjoy the rifle, use it for varmints, and in my opinion it is just an .22lr on steroids for big kids to play with. I did put magpul furniture on it cause its the tacticoolest! What shocked me was the accuracy I got out of it.

 

[DMK]

The only enduring "Fad" I see is the popularity of M4 profile barrels on 16" civilian guns that will never in their lives have a grenade launcher mounted to them.

It's not about the GL, it's about the weight. There is no point in having an 8 or 9 lb rifle to shoot a cartridge that has little more recoil than 22magnum. A 5 or 6 lb AR15 carbine shoots and handles very nicely.

 

[Hatterasguy]

I thought the AR-15 WAS the fad?

Maybe!

 

[happygeek]

My AR is a 22LR (dedicated CMMG 22LR upper). Don't have a 5.56 upper for it, will probably get one eventually. The awesome thing about is that I can actually afford to practice with it.

Come to think of it, you left out everyone getting 22LR uppers and/or drop in conversions for their ARs out of the list of fads.

 

[Shadow Man]

How about the fad where everyone gets together and starts seriously pushing to get that stupid 86 law repealed, that way we can get real M4s?

I'll support that fad, even join in whole hog.

I'm not sure about this fad thingy...my AR's have 20" pencil thin barrels, one has no rails, and the other one will probably be having it's forend swapped with a PRI pretty soon, because it has just about nothing on the rails anyway.