AR fads

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There really shouldn't be any conflict here. The AR platform is great! You can buy/build an original "A1" clone, or you can build an SBR, SPR, varmint, NRA High Power, a rifle focused on the competition you like to do, a KISS carbine, or a medium or big bore hunting rifle.

If someone has an AR with all the tacticool stuff hung off it, more power to him. The 95% that buy stuff because they like or its neat or whatever help drive volume which makes the good stuff cheaper for the 5% that do need it, or have a utilitarian reason to use it. I'd go so far as to say without such a big market, a lot of the innovation that we enjoy in basic add-ons wouldn't have happened.

Perhaps a better outlet than saying, "I saw a dude at the range with a coat-hanger and bottle opener and a laser hanging off his AR-15, what a loser!" would be to identify products that are poor quality or serve no utility, through a well thought out essay or review.

In addition, there are many different uses, and changes in "mission" can have a large impact on what is good and what isn't for that person/mission.
 
Tirod, I dont know how to say this, but a lot of what you are saying is simply wrong.

I could go into it, but, it would take too long.

There is no reason not avail yourself of new items, and what everyone else finds usefull is not automatically a bad idea.


Right now, I would say the M4 type is a fad. If built to milspec, it has a number of useless features a civilian owner has no justification having, other than his legal right to possess - one I cherish.
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Ok I would not even THINK about talking like that around here. "I dont know why you would need that so you have no justification" is just not the road you want to go down.

Some forums actually have professionals on line.
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And this is insulting.

Basically you have pretty strong opinions on how everyone else is wrong and stupid, and you are superiour to them.

ok. whatever dude. You enjoy your hunting AR.

I bought a Magpul stock because I like the feel of it, it fits whoever is shooting the gun <kids, my wife> and it was a grand total of $30 bucks more than the stock one.

Does this make me the object of all of your hate?

How about the extra $10 bucks I spend for a hated MOE grip with a place for my boresnake!!! omg, thats too bandwagony! too bad its actually nice to have and feel great in the hand!

And you actually think a SLING is useless? holy cow dude.

Dude you need to quit telling other people how stupid they are, my AR cost me 700 bucks to build and it has a lot of magpul and daniel defense stuff and if you dont like it because its not your precious hunting AR and your prepaid cell phone...

Well you can just go suck lemons :) <trying to be funny, not seriously mad at you.>

Seriously. Lots of hate here. I think you are jealous. I think you are attacking a straw man.

This is america, and you sound a LOT like the gun banners.


<edit: I figured it out. I think he is jealous. He wants top shelf stuff, cant afford it, and has himself convinced WE are all the losers because we have good jobs.>

Typical thinking, sounds like washington. I cant have it so nobody should. Redistribute the wealth. Dangerous business.
 
There really shouldn't be any conflict here. The AR platform is great! You can buy/build an original "A1" clone, or you can build an SBR, SPR, varmint, NRA High Power, a rifle focused on the competition you like to do, a KISS carbine, or a medium or big bore hunting rifle.
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Zak Smith is 100% correct.

And if you decide you would rather change your rifle up, FOR FUN, Good on you. This is america. We have disposable income, and its not wrong to use it.
 
If there is any more diversion into personal economics or ad hominem fallacy, I will lock this thread. Perhaps my last post was not clear enough.
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Sorry Zak, I will shut up with my ad hominem fallicies. :)
 
I rarely see an AR these days without elaborate accessories. Nothing wrong with accessories. I have owned a Colt AR-15A2 for over 20 years and have yet to attach anything to it. My greatest wish is that the ammo prices would go down so I could have more trigger time!
 
My greatest wish is that the ammo prices would go down so I could have more trigger time!
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May I suggest another useless accessory CornCod?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shQkvpaa0VE

The CMMG stainless 22lr conversion.

Best 200 bucks I have EVER spent.

Flawless operation so far. and by flawless I mean flawless.<other than duds> 5000 rounds in. shoots federal bulk pack 100%, wont shoot a single remington thunderbolt.

And, one of the highlights of my gun owning .... experiance was bringing out the AR and going shooting with some kids, who LOVED shooting a "military" gun, and I loved the fact we were shooting 22lr and not breaking the bank.

That was months ago and they are still talking about it.

Makin kids happy is great.
 
I would say the M4 type is a fad.
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You would be wrong. No offense of course. Just saying.

The M4 is the most popular style out there right now and will continue to be for some time. Why? Because it is the most popular rifle our military issues as well.

Saying that the M4 is a fad would be like saying that the M1 or M14 (M1A's in this case) are/were fads. If that is your definition of fad, then maybe you are right...
 
hmm.. I like this one very much.

D101_5237_img.jpg


Can someone a little more experianced tell me what that is?

Is that a SBR? like 14.5 or something? it looks like a midlength handgaurd I think.

I think it must be.

I am not sure I am sold on the muzzle device, but I do like the longer handgaurd shorter barrel thing hes got goin there.

I wonder if there is a rail, that will come even with the beginning of the flash hider, on a 16 inch barrel? that would be some hot stuff right there. with a fixed clamp on front sight.
 
Zak your pictures make me stop and ooooooo and ahhhhhh, they are always a welcome breath of fresh air. Thanks for sharing.
 
I own AR's, which are set up pretty basic with just a scope or good iron sights, no need for me to put on all the lasers, lights, $1000 optics, Beta mags, etc. I just flat out don't want all that junk on my gun. There are people who use the stuff and people who just like to have the stuff, and that's fine, but i know some people who ought to spend a little more time at the range and little less time showing off the next AR widget they spent a bunch of money on to impress their friends. It makes me a little uneasy when CERTAIN tacticool types start running their mouths about how great of shooters they are and how they can "hit anything out to 800M" with their 16" .223 AR and EOtech. I know people that have the stuff and use it well, and I know guys who just have it for show and have big mouths, but can't shoot for ****. Unfortunately, with the recent AR craze, the number of the latter has risen a LOT.
 
Here's a better photo of the gun (top).

D101_5613_img.jpg

Based on the scale, it looks like a 11.5" SBR (mine on the bottom is a 12.0), probably a LaRue 11.0 rail and the Noveske KX3 muzzle device.
 
I think the best part of the AR platform is its versatility. What other firearm can be configured in so many different ways with such a vast array of parts and makers.

Greebe
 
I own AR's, which are set up pretty basic with just a scope or good iron sights, no need for me to put on all the lasers, lights, $1000 optics, Beta mags, etc. I just flat out don't want all that junk on my gun. There are people who use the stuff and people who just like to have the stuff, and that's fine, but i know some people who ought to spend a little more time at the range and little less time showing off the next AR widget they spent a bunch of money on to impress their friends. It makes me a little uneasy when CERTAIN tacticool types start running their mouths about how great of shooters they are and how they can "hit anything out to 800M" with their 16" .223 AR and EOtech. I know people that have the stuff and use it well, and I know guys who just have it for show and have big mouths, but can't shoot for ****. Unfortunately, with the recent AR craze, the number of the latter has risen a LOT.
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We've all seen this, but none of this makes me uneasy. So long as they are not endangering my life I don't care if they dress up like a ninja or duct tape an ACOG to their quad rail. None of that is my business...
 
"Owning stuff like that is fad, ego enhancement where no real skill exists to back it up."

This may be true among some people, but not for all.
Also slings come in very handy as an infantryman, in basic training they teach you to not use them much, but in the real army as an infantryman you find many advantages to having one, also many uses for it to be there in the field, Im sure other combat vets will agree with me.
I personally have a single point sling, havent decided to try other designs yet with my gas piston M4.
 
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.
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I'm sorry, but I simply disagree with this progression. Do you seriously think this is the manner in which have gone over time, and that they are fads?

Sure, there is excitement when new stuff is introduced, but that's to be expected with any new release. I'd hardly call them "fads".

Some of these new technologies address concerns/trouble areas. We no longer have to "put up" with things like we used too. The KX3 for instance really cuts down in the muzzle blast and concussion when shooting short barreled AR's/M4's.

I think some of you would, without a second thought, field our soldiers with similar load-outs, weapons, and training used during WWII. This mentality of, "well, it worked fine before, why do we need it now???" is a ridiculous for reasons I could write a dissertation on.

And since when, speaking more generally now, has "I don't need these things" turning into "these things I don't need are 'junk'" become valid?

Note: Not all of my post is directed at the OP.
 
I did not intend this thread to take personal shots at anyone, merely post what I thought I saw going on in the AR market based off of what I was observing on Arfcom. I do enjoy lively discussion but if this thread pissed off anyone too much I apologize.
 
Uh, Arfcom has a wide selection of all type of AR setups. Hard to tell whats getting popular.......

seems thy've evolved to the point where: If it works for ya, it works. If it deosn't, it deosn't.
 
A common theme from Zak's pictures is the lack of crap hanging off the rifles. I'm not a 3-gun competitor (though I want to try it) but my impression is that it's a pretty good test of how a rifle would get used in the real world.

If someone wants to hang all kinds of toys off their rifle, more power to them, it's your rifle. But seeing what serious competitors use has given me a lot of insight as I accumulate parts for my first AR build.

In the end, if it makes you happy, go for it. It's your money.
 
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