Gun Fever

[vita]

Hey guys... Im new here, but thought Id ask a question...


when modding, when do you stop and think "enough is enough".

I received a RRA ar15 a year or two back from my Dad for academic reasons... and have been doing some additions to it as I get the money. But all I have left is getting some mags for it, or a silencer. To be honest, I cant drop the the 900+ for a decent silencer, and mags are sooo.... non-modding.





what else would you do to this if it was yours?

 

[DoubleTapDrew]

If it was mine I'd lose the magnifier and add a magpul trigger guard. Magazines aren't very exciting at the range but if you run out of loaded ammo in a bad situation and really need some in a hurry they become pretty darn important.
Take any extra money and put it into ammo and shoot it until it becomes a part of you.

 

[ichiban]

Gotta agree with DoubleTapDrew - unless this is just for showing your friends that you are "tacti-cool" it is already overloaded. Put your money into ammo and practice.

 

[Sam1911]

when modding, when do you stop and think "enough is enough".

The moment I've added some piece of kit that solves a need I discovered through extensive training and practice.

If I can't prove to myself that an item is critical by shooting and seeing where I have a deficiency caused by my gear, I'm not putting that item on my weapon.

If you are spending more on gear than you are on training fees, match fees, and ammo then your modding is counter-productive.

 

[Robert]

If you are spending more on gear than you are on training fees, match fees, and ammo then your modding is counter-productive.

Sam for the win.

At some point you have to actually go out and shoot. Either at a match or in a class or even just time spent on the bench. Trigger time is better than any wizz bang bolt on.

 

[tyeo098]

Want to add something?

Sell off all the optics and lights and nonsense, and buy a carry handle.
Learn to shoot with irons, be pro!

 

[xfyrfiter]

The more you add, the heavier it gets, and the more to go wrong. The only thing I have to have is an optic, because I cant see the sights any more. But each to his or her own. It's your gun.

 

[Chris Rhines]

Sell off all the optics and lights and nonsense, and buy a carry handle.
Learn to shoot with irons, be pro!

Pros use optics. Pros frequently use lights and other "nonsense."

To the OP, pay attention to what Sam said. Every modification that you make to your rifle needs to serve a purpose. Otherwise, you're just wasting money in a futile effort to look cool.

-C

 

[courtgreene]

You could always get another upper, maybe in a different chambering, that way you can start all over. Given that you asked what else you can do... not what you shouldn't have done. For the record, though, I agree with those guys.

 

[GCBurner]

Sell the expensive mods, and use the money to buy another rifle.

 

[vita]

Lets break it down:

The weapon came with the Eo-tech and Surefire light
Ive added the forgrip with kick out bipod on the bottom (picked up for free from an armorer when I was at Ft. Polk. LA for a bit)
I added the Magnifier w/ FTS mount for some actual long range shooting if I care to.



As for shooting, Id love to. I will be doing a LOT of it when I go home. Unfortunately, I live in Fargo, ND. we still have 3+ feet of snow on the ground.


I wont be able to shoot until april at local ranges. When I get back home to Wisconsin this may, thats when I can enjoy the range a bit more.

As for the Irons, I have them on there. Flip up on the rear... Ive shot a lot with irons (Dad's Colt Ar-15), plus, some shooting for training. I might be new to the "commercial" gun world, but Im not new to guns entirely.


Ive read the posts, heard ammo and range fee's. I get the point. I dont reload, and before I use the search function to find a great place to find ammo, thanks for the input!

 

[Robert]

I dont reload

That might a good step. Reloading is not only fun and relaxing, at least for me, but it is a great way to tailor a load to your rifle.

 

[MrCleanOK]

what else would you do to this if it was yours?

1. Remove and sell/return magnifier.
2. Put EOTech in its rightful place (on the RECEIVER).
3. Remove and sell grip-pod.
4. Put pressure switch on top of hand guard for thumb activation.
5. Use money from magnifier and grip pod to buy this, this and this.
6. Apply ammunition to chamber and finger to trigger liberally. Put some wear marks on it!
   

 

[zstephens13]

Personally, I prefer the "KISS" rule: Keep it simple, stupid! That's just the rule, I'm not calling anyone stupid.
The reason I look at what I can remove from a rifle and not what I can add is because they get so dang heavy!
Find out the essentials. In a place like Alaska a light might just be essential because as my wife put it, "Its dark all the time half of the time, not dark half of the time all the time."
If you aren't going to use it in a majority of your shooting, or if it doesn't make you shoot better or give you an advantage, lose it.

 

[Maverick223]

Add a Magpul AFG...then remove everything else, except the sling. Then shoot the booger...when you get done, buy more ammo...and shoot some more!

Sometimes too much really is just too much.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I don't get the concept of decorating up a gun like a Xmas tree...I carry an AR everyday at work. Mines got a sling and a Trijicon Reflex sight, only because I work mainly at night. One mag in the gun, and maybe one stuck in my backpocket is all I need to feel well armed.

 

[Gordon_Freeman]

I disagree with most of the comments here. You should accessorize your rifle. My suggestion would be to upgrade the butt stock to a magpul ACS.

 

[mljdeckard]

The magazines should be the FIRST thing you upgrade, not the last.

 

[Gordon_Freeman]

Get some magpul pmags.

 

[vita]

Mags:

I looked at getting some Pmags... I have some standard mags, nothing fancy, at the same time this is a weapon that sits locked up bolted to the closet rack in a case. I have about 5 or 6 mags already... all feed fine. This hasnt seen a lot of time out and about shooting yet (weather).


the more I hear it though, the more I think that ammo is the best route for me to take. As for selling all the "crap" on it? Not yet. I dont care if the thing has a couple pounds of weight to it... I dont need to be sprinting from building to building shooting Al-Queda with this one. At least not yet.

If I need to do long amount of carrying with this, You bet your ass the light is coming off. But, this is just how it sits in the case.

Even though how defensive I can sound, and how maybe "ridiculous" my setup may be, I do want to thank you guys for your input. keep it coming, it aint gonna hurt anything.

 

[unwise11]

More good mags, some good expanding ammo, stripper clips, and a better trigger if you need one.

 

[frankenstein406]

Start reloading, you'll have your hands full for a while.

 

[Sam1911]

Even though how defensive I can sound, and how maybe "ridiculous" my setup may be, I do want to thank you guys for your input. keep it coming, it aint gonna hurt anything.

No worries -- sounds like you've got a good attitude. There's such a cult of fannishness surrounding the 'tactical' world these days that in certain corners of the gun culture you'll discover a bit of a kickback against it. This is definitely one of those corners, and here you're likely to hear repeated over and over exactly what you've already heard:

1) You can't buy/bolt-on skills.
2) The more gear you have bolted to the gun the less likely you are to be able to use it fast and proficiently.
3) Make your kit no more complicated than you absolutely have to in order to get the job done.
4) The weakest link in your platform is (always) YOU, so that's the part you need to spend your time and money to improve.

AAAnnnnnnddd,

5) "Mindset, skillset, toolset -- In that order!"



Having said all of that, these days the world is full of some pretty fantastic gear. Stuff that really works. Stuff that is really, actually, engineered to help a human being accomplish amazing things with a firearm. Chances are, you'll benefit from some of that new tech as you develop and then hone your abilities.

Just don't fall into the trap that so many seem to, of making the EASY "investment" of money into the name brand gear, (which will be sub-prime tomorrow), to the neglect of investing in you -- the only piece of gear you cant replace, and the weak link that is by far the hardest to improve.

 

[Mags]

and mags are sooo.... non-modding.

Mags and ammo are actually what you should have bought instead of all that other junk.

You need to ditch the magnifier and move your Eotech back onto your receiver, looks like you have a standard non FF handguard.

 

[vita]

No worries -- sounds like you've got a good attitude. There's such a cult of fannishness surrounding the 'tactical' world these days that in certain corners of the gun culture you'll discover a bit of a kickback against it. This is definitely one of those corners, and here you're likely to hear repeated over and over exactly what you've already heard:

1) You can't buy/bolt-on skills.
2) The more gear you have bolted to the gun the less likely you are to be able to use it fast and proficiently.
3) Make your kit no more complicated than you absolutely have to in order to get the job done.
4) The weakest link in your platform is (always) YOU, so that's the part you need to spend your time and money to improve.

AAAnnnnnnddd,

5) "Mindset, skillset, toolset -- In that order!"



Having said all of that, these days the world is full of some pretty fantastic gear. Stuff that really works. Stuff that is really, actually, engineered to help a human being accomplish amazing things with a firearm. Chances are, you'll benefit from some of that new tech as you develop and then hone your abilities.

Just don't fall into the trap that so many seem to, of making the EASY "investment" of money into the name brand gear, (which will be sub-prime tomorrow), to the neglect of investing in you -- the only piece of gear you cant replace, and the weak link that is by far the hardest to improve.

You sir, are a gentleman and a scholar. If I could give you reps on that post, I would.

Mags and ammo are actually what you should have bought instead of all that other junk.

You need to ditch the magnifier and move your Eotech back onto your receiver, looks like you have a standard non FF handguard.

As for my buying all that "junk"... Im about 200 dollars in total on the entire setup.


Beyond that, heres the Noob in me... Whats the difference between Free floating and a standard hand guard?