does anyone actually dislike the AR15?

[jason41987]

i see a lot of people, many who havent even fired them before express nothing but praise for the AR15.. and i find fanboys that get incredibly defensive if you criticise even one part of something they believe is infallible

so has anyone here used the AR15 enough and decided they just dont like it?.. maybe they find some features annoying like the charging handle, lack of a folding stock for storage, no cheek-riser because of that charging handle, carrier smacking beside your head, or perhaps its generally very, very low action?

i wanted to build one from parts because you get the impression everyone should have one.. but, i had to change my mind when i stopped and thought to myself... "what am i thinking? i dont even like these things"

so.. does anyone else not like it, and prefer something else?... if so, what do you prefer and why?

 

[TRguy]

de ja vue....TFL.

I like ARs cause I can. It is a matter of taste and preference.

Where is the "Like" Button.

 

[Odd Job]

I have only fired around 50 rounds through an AR-15, but I can tell straight away I don't like the "sproing" in my ear.

 

[WNTFW]

I love the AR15. What I have found is rational discussions are rare but quite useful. Most guys I know that don't like the AR15 have not gone in with an open mind. That is there right, opinion, choice or whatever. If I find what they have to say is rational & supported by evidence then great. If they are just a fanboy then it is not worth listening to as I have heard it multiple times and will have the chance to hear it again shortly. Finding out where a person is coming from and the context of their opinion can help though.
One reason I like AR's is I shoot in matches occasionally. Matches are NRA high power. If it were 3 gun then the AR would not be as much of a necessity. AR gives me the option. The whole modularity thing is not that big a selling point for me, though I have warmed up to it a bit lately
What I have found is most guys that are against a specific platform are not that knowledgeable overall and tend to focus on equipment too much. Many would be better off worrying about something else with their energy. Being in better physical condition would be one thing that could easily trump equipment choice. Having too many guns & not enough training could be argued against.
All in all I have heard way more negatives than I have encountered with the
AR.

 

[JustinJ]

I like the AR but it's not my favorite rifle of it's class. I agree it has great ergonomics, minus the charging handle, but my biggest issue is the method of operation. First, i think DI offers some benefits, such as lighter weight, but there is a cost. DI is not so much an issue with a semi-auto rifle that is pampered at the range but fired full auto in a desert is a whole other ball game. My other complaint against the AR is that there are too many points of contact between the carrier and upper receiver as it is essentially a cylinder traveling through a round channel. A system in which the carrier rides on a rail is better, imo, as there is far less space for grime to impair function.

My other gripe is the inability to install a folding stock due to the buffer tube.

All in all for a general issue combat weapon i would say i like the AK platform but the AUG is my real favorite. I haven't had a chance to run a SCAR yet but it looks like it may be a contender for top assault rifle of the world. However, if the world ended tomorrow the AK74 would by my first pick due to its unrivaled reliability.

 

[EMS_92]

I have some experience with AR15s, I qualified sharpshooter at Gunpowder military range in MD when I was in the Young Marines and the shooting range I go to whenever I can save up money always has a Stag AR to rent. But even based on just that lil bit, I want one and Im currently saving pennies from each paycheck to build my own. It just fits me.

 

[The_Armed_Therapist]

I like them, but they just aren't my thing. My only experience with one was less-than stellar, with it jamming every few shots. People don't seem to believe that experience, but I can promise that it's true. I don't really blame the gun; I more-so blame the owner. There isn't much to dislike, in my opinion, except that it's such a different platform that it takes a little time to get used to.

 

[jim243]

I can't say I dislike them. I would rather have the charging handle replaced with a side bolt handle. BUT-----

I find the 223 a very nice plinking round, just as I do the other 22 caliber bullets (22 LR & 22 Mag). But while many do, I do not consider it a serious hunting round except for small mammals. Anything deer size (180 lbs or larger) I would use at least a 243 or larger for.

I also dislike the cost of building one of sufficient size (243, 260 or 308) for hunting.

I do find them fun to shoot, nice for selfdefense on thin skin targets, but insufficient for the bigger stuff. For those, I use a 270, 35 Remington and a 30-06.

Jim

 

[Sam1911]

i see a lot of people, many who havent even fired them before express nothing but praise for the AR15.. and i find fanboys that get incredibly defensive if you criticise even one part of something they believe is infallible

so has anyone here used the AR15 enough and decided they just dont like it?...

...

i wanted to build one from parts because you get the impression everyone should have one.. but, i had to change my mind when i stopped and thought to myself... "what am i thinking? i dont even like these things"

I think this is AWESOME! Actually a thing of beauty! Sometimes something comes along which is the most perfect example of its type that it deserves recognition. Maybe even an award!

So, for the most ironic thread of the year, the award goes to...

 

[jason41987]

im starting to really like the sig rifles myself.. absolutely hate the 556 though because its trying to hard to be an AR... i like sigs for what they were and they got away from that in hopes of more sales with compatibility with AR mags.. the 551A1 is on my list though

im also starting to like AKs more than more... they do have issues with ergonomics, but the aftermarkets taking care of that pretty well

one design i havent had the opportunity to fire, but am hoping to purchase soon is the AR180... but wont know if ill like that one or not until i get my hands on one

 

[jason41987]

I think this is AWESOME! Actually a thing of beauty! Sometimes something comes along which is the most perfect example of its type that it deserves recognition. Maybe even an award!

So, for the most ironic thread of the year, the award goes to...

i used to have AR15s though.. had to stop and remember exactly why i dont have them anymore

 

[kimbershot]

i liked them pre obama when ammo was much cheaper . so far all i have left is a stripped lower. thinking about another lower and building an ar in 45acp

 

[Gunnerboy]

I dont like them one bit! ive put box thru a couple differant ones and the controls are nice except the charging handle, but the overall feel is weird to me as is the feeding issues and having to clear jams....... Im kinda stuck on the G3, Fn's, Ak's etc.

 

[jason41987]

I dont like them one bit! ive put box thru a couple differant ones and the controls are nice except the charging handle, but the overall feel is weird to me as is the feeding issues and having to clear jams....... Im kinda stuck on the G3, Fn's, Ak's etc.

it would have been nice if the FN came in a smaller platform... i believe they made one called the CAL, but that was pretty rare in a civilian form

i like HK91s as well, but they tend to reduce the life of brass... so id restrict one of these to surplus ammo i wasnt going to reload anyway

 

[CraigC]

I need at least three or four more before I can decide if I REALLY like them or not.

 

[Trent]

There are things I dislike about them, but overall, I don't entirely dislike them.

It takes an awful lot for me to say, especially about a firearm, that "I truly dislike it".. because that implies I can find no redeeming factor whatsoever.

Cartridges go in, bullets go out. There's something to like about that.

 

[Gtimothy]

I have two ARs but they aren't my favorite guns in the safe. If I want to go to the range and just tear up targets, the ARs get the nod. But, if I want to ring a gong a LONG way away, I bring the bolt guns. I'm picking up my FAL tomorrow. Maybe it will be the bridge between the two!

 

[sixgunner455]

You get used to the sproing. So much so, that you might not even notice it after a while.

 

[firesky101]

An AR is a gun right? I am with trent hard to dislike something that bullets come out of.

 

[Slamfire]

I don’t like how dirty the interior of the rifle gets. The rifle needs to be run wet for best reliability and cleaning the interior is similar to wiping out an oil pan: a nasty combination of oil and combustion residue.

I prefer the open top exterior of the Garand/M14/M1 carbine. You can look down, instantly see what is going on. The openings are large enough that you can get you fingers in and remove jammed cartridges.

Serious AR competitors typically have a leatherman type tool on them or in their shooting stool. When you get a jam, and jams happen, or you get a blown primer rattling around the interior, you end up using the needle nosed plier to get things out of the loading port because it is too small for fingers. If you have a blown primer between the top of the bolt and the upper, the lack of a bolt handle makes it difficult to clear the primer. You can pull the bolt back with the charging handle but you can’t get it to go forward. The forward assist is basically useless for most of the bolt travel and does not provide much mechanical leverage.

Yesterday I had a blown primer eliminate me from a Highpower match. My trigger mechanism stopped resetting during the standing stage. I could drop the magazine, cycle the bolt, and get the trigger to work. As much as that disturbed my offhand sequence I got through it. However the trigger stopped resetting after my first sitting rapid fire sighter. I separated the halves and saw a primer in the trigger mechanism well. I knocked that out by wacking the lower on my shooting stool. During the rapid fire stage I shot three X’s and the trigger mechanism jammed again. I had to retire from the match and disassembled the trigger mechanism in the safe area. My trigger is a Rock River two stage. I wiped everything off, there was lots of grease and oil, no broken springs or parts, reassembled everything and was able to join the match at 600 yards. I don’t know what caused the reset problem, whatever it was either fell out when I removed the mechanism, or was wiped out. Still I was not confident in the thing, (every shot testing the trigger to see if it would release) only shot a 193-7X at long range, and I had a DNF in the two rapid fire sequences.

This mechanism traps primers, residue, in the trigger well. If something gets down there it does not come out. The Garand mechanism is so much better, you can pull out the trigger guard, the sides are open, so you can see everything and knock anything out with your finger.

As a semi auto target rifle the AR15 type is the best for absolute accuracy. However for a combat rifle I would want something better.

AR magazines have their issues. Even Government magazines malfunction given time. The shooter I was scoring, his first round on the reload came out of the magazine, ejecting from the port. He saw that and ejected the magazine. The next magazine auto ejected from the rifle, and I still don't know how he did that, even though I was watching this. He put the magazine in and hit the bolt release and the magazine ejected out. It looked latched till he hit the bolt release. When he got that magazine back in and relatched, he was so rattled that he shot those eight rounds at record speed, ruining his score.

 

[cfullgraf]

As Col Whelend said, only accurate rifles are interesting rifles.

I was not much interested in ARs until they figured out how to make them very accurate.

Also, i like that I can assemble my own to a "flavor" that suits me.

But, they are not the only rifle in the safe.

 

[phonesysphonesys]

I don't care for ARs and the.223 is only good for coyotes. There are better rounds than the .223. I like M1As. They feel like a real gun and don't make a funny noise in your ear like something broke.

 

[Cosmoline]

I got my first one last year, and fully expected NOT to like it. But instead of finding it to be a jam-prone overengineered firearm, I've found it to be extremely simple and reliable. Far more so than many piston-driven semis. I also found it to be very accurate and easy to shoot.

Any semi can jam, and jam badly. And every benefit is a potential drawback. So your big open top on a Garand or M14 is also a big invitation for mud and crud. Whereas the AR has a sealed cover. The piston keeps crud out of the action but is another part that can fail for one reason or another. From a bent rod to a loose plug.

As far as a combat rifle, I can't say having never been in combat. But between a Garand, M14 and M16, I know which one I'd rather have to carry.

 

[9mmepiphany]

I have only fired around 50 rounds through an AR-15, but I can tell straight away I don't like the "sproing" in my ear.

That was the first thing that struck me when I bought my first.

I've owner several over the years, from a 11.5" long flash suppressor clone to a target model. The most I can say is they are fun and it is easy to get parts. The two points that always irritated me were the location of the charging handle and the buffer tube.

I can understand why the Armalite AR-18/180 is considered a product improvement...although I'd prefer the cocking handle on the left side.

I'm partial to the FAL/L1A1 ergos, but never cared for the CAL or the FNC

My current favorite is the VZ-58 as one of the most accurate .30 caliber AK-style platforms...rivaling the Valmet family

 

[jason41987]

the only issues i have with the M1A and the FAL is their relatively high cost when compared to AR15s and AKs.. i like the M1A and the FAL actions as well, FAL has some nice features on it as well...

sometimes i look at these .308 caliber rifles and look at their downsides, why theyre not really in service anywhere today and a lot of it does have to do with weight of the ammo.. but also the added recoil making it take longer for new recruits to get used to.. and i have to wonder if they couldnt be chambered for something more accurate downrange, with less felt recoil... like .243, or the 6.5 creedmor? but.. thats another topic entirely