Back to basics with AR15

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rdmercer

rdmercer

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northern Idaho
I tried them all. Rails, lights, lazers, forward grips, scopes, red dots, fancy dancy slings. Did I forget anything? I kept adding weight and the balance went to hell. And adding up the cost for these add ons amounted to more than what the rifle cost. It made no sense for me.
So I went back to the original design with removable carry handle iron sights, solid stock, and a common sling on a Bushmaster XM-15 and a 1972 Colt SP-1. These are wonderful sights on these rifles and I can still hit a 12 inch rock at 250 yds all the time. And here in Central Idaho even the rocks at 500 yds. get smacked regularly at minute to man. You can either hear the impact or see the rock dust. It is fun again for these 68 year old eyes that had cataract surgery. Sorry for the rant, but life is great!!!
 
I applaud you. I now have difficulty without optics. But I also am of the opinion that a plain AI light rifle is the best. Very quick and accurate. I don't like all that bulk and weight, but I am a trained point and shoot guy. A lost art I think.
 
I agree with you I really enjoy shooting my A2 , no battery's needed, it does not need multiple sight's and magnifiers with back ups installed to work, its so
simple and works well for me
 
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I'm with you. I built mine plane Jane. My previous one had a light and free float tube and a bipod and a bungee sling. I now prefer mine to be very basic.
 
OP gotta agree with you. Nothing better than a "kiss" rifle. My lightest (16" LW) is 6.5 lbs, heaviest (20" A2) is 7.8 lbs.

Just some basic polymer handguards; magpuls are cheap and strong, no need for the free float rails.
Standard controls; too much emphasis today on making AR's "ambi".
Basic fixed iron sights that hold their zero and immune to condensation or circuit failure.

Although if it's for home duty I would add a forward mounted weapon light.
 
Another vote for the A2

I've got one AR, a Colt from the ban period, mfd. circa 1995.

Bought it used from a competition shooter, it was his backup gun. Iron sights, 20 inch barrel, solid buttstock.

No accessories whatsoever. It's great fun to shoot and even with my 68-year-old eyes I can do okay.
 

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That's why I built this AR carbine. Lightweight, simple, quite handy.

carbines.jpg

That said, my go-to HD carbines do have a light and red dot. Still fairly simple compared to some configurations I see.

Midlengths.jpg
 
I never got into whistles and bells on my AR rifles. They all look about the same, boring. :) Since the below image was taken another SP1 came along which looks just like the one in the picture. The scoped Double Star came along as seen with the scope. I also have a scoped upper for my AR10 but haven't had it on the rifle in years. I am good with plain.

The%20AR%20Family.png

Ron
 
I bought an M&P Sport last year and I've kept it bone stock, it works great for me. The only thing I added was a red dot. It has nice iron sights, so I can use either set-up.
 
As the original OP, I do have to make a confession. For home and farm defense I do have something a little different than the AR's that I mentioned earlier. I stay close to a Saiga AK47 with a 4-position Tapco stock with an angled foregrip, an Aimpoint Pro mounted on an Ultimak quadrail, and Surefire light. Darn heavy and out of balance and not near as much fun as the AR15s in original basic configurations.
 
3 AR's here---2 have Aimpoints and Magpul plastic flip up rears ---the other one just has the carry handle attached----all 3 just have basic nylon straps for slings--factory handguards and collapsible stocks---one "might" get a light attached in the future for night use.

That's all I've done to them --pretty much as basic as it gets--have delved into pimping out AR's before and didn't care for the results
 
I am a big fan of the "Minimalist" AR.

To this day my favorite AR to shoot is a 20 inch A2 with Magpul Furniture. Like most AR enthusiasts I have several different configurations but the 20 inch A2 with fixed carry handle is still the most fun for me. The 16 inch A2, like an IDF Carbine style rifle, is a close second.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
This goes along well with Taliv's thread on stripping back up irons off ARs these days.

A lot of folks are realizing that a simple, light sighting system (which absolutely could mean a reliable red-dot optic) is all most of us need. A simple handguard/tube of your choosing, a simple stock (fixed or collapsible) and go! :)

Keep it light and fun. :)
 
Another guy here in Idaho with 68 year old eyes, RDMercer. I also like a plain Jane AR but do dress it up with a lot of Magpul in FDE. My carry handle resides in the closet and the rear sight is a flip up MBus with Busnell TRS-25 red dot. Keeps the rifle just over 6 pounds (7 with loaded mag). I need cataract surgery this year and hope that works out well.
 
Cold 200% humidity pretty much limits me to iron sighted KISS AR's anyways.

J&J's shampoo and rubbing alcohol helps my RDS's a little, but when they fog up, it's game over for them.
 
When I bought my Daughter an AR I wanted her to use iron sights and bought the KNS front sight kit. Pretty impressive once I played with a few of them, better groups than an aimpoint comp 3.
 
rdmercer,

Glad that you are turning rocks into dust! I know you are having a great time with your rifles.

Like you, I'm not fond of unnecessary accessories turning a nimble, light carbine into a clunky, awkward, and heavier than need be rifle.

The only thing I've added to mine is an adjustable two point sling, and a surefire light. Other than that it's magul handguards, and irons. Still pretty light and nimble! Maybe someday I'll add something like an aimpoint micro, but it's pretty darn serviceable just like it is. At least for my low speed needs!
 
As for the KISS principle, I like it. Stock sights work for everything I need. It's a plinker, capable of anything I'd ever need from a rifle, as is. Short of maybe a light if I move it into home defense duty.
 
I never had anything to strip from my AR as I've never installed anything I didn't feel made the rifle shoot better or easier to carry. Aimpoint Micro, QD sling and QD weapon light. Done.

I take that back- I'm thinking of stripping the BUIS from the 16 inch and cutting down the FSB. I love shooting the iron sights, but I find I shoot with the Aimpoint or the scope much more often.

Point being, I consider an RDS or a scope, QD sling and (depending on what I'm using the rifle for) QD weapon light to be a KISS configuration
 
looking at my AR now, it has a sling, aimpoint T1, magpul angled foregrip, IR laser, and a suppressor. For me, those are all functional, not cosmetic. doesn't seem overly complex
 
Hey Taliv how is the angled foregrip functional for you?

I am not trying to be scarcastic just curious. What advantages does it offer for you over a vertical grip? I am a big Magpul fan but have always been on the fence on the angled foregrip.

Thanks in advance,
LeonCarr
 
I just finished a Carbine build and at 16" its going to have a Carry Handle as soon as I can pick one up at a good price. Nothing more.
 
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