Rittmeister
Member
I've got two AR15s, both 5.56 chambering. One I bought complete and it came with a heavy-profile barrel (not to be confused with a bull barrel). The other I built, and it has a government profile - A2 I think.
I've had the heavy barrel gun (it's a Rock River) configured a few different ways - low-power scope, red-dot, irons - but have never felt comfortable shooting it offhand. From a rest, it's great, but if I want to plink in the woods at multiple targets I just don't feel I'm very accurate.
The thin-barreled gun on the other hand, is a joy for me to shoot. It's only ever had iron sights and even when it had a mil-spec trigger I shot it faster and more accurately than the RRA. Now that it's got a nicer trigger, it's no contest.
So I'm wondering if there's any real-world reason to keep trying with the heavy gun. I've already changed the handguard for a lighter one, gone to a low-profile gas block instead of the big flip-sight one that came on it, and gave up on the 1-4x scope (1.5 pounds with mount!) in favor of a 5-oz red-dot. There's not much more to do short of changing the barrel itself, and I'm reaching my point of "I've dumped enough cash into this project".
In my mind, I liked having the iron-sighted gun for teaching purposes and for lightweight packing, and the heavier gun for... well, I'm not sure what for. It's the first rifle I ever bought and it was a good deal when I got it, which may have been more motivation than deliberation I'm not into rapid-fire, which is the only time I feel the heavy barrel has a serious advantage over the thinner profile.
I'm considering keeping the lightweight gun as-is, adding a higher-magnification scope and bipod to the RRA for use as a more dedicated "long-range" gun, and perhaps building a tacticool upper with a red-dot or whatever, that could go on either of the lowers. OR, selling the RRA and being done with it... I do love to tinker though.
I realize this was a bit rambling, but I'd be curious what opinions people might have on the situation.
Thanks!
I've had the heavy barrel gun (it's a Rock River) configured a few different ways - low-power scope, red-dot, irons - but have never felt comfortable shooting it offhand. From a rest, it's great, but if I want to plink in the woods at multiple targets I just don't feel I'm very accurate.
The thin-barreled gun on the other hand, is a joy for me to shoot. It's only ever had iron sights and even when it had a mil-spec trigger I shot it faster and more accurately than the RRA. Now that it's got a nicer trigger, it's no contest.
So I'm wondering if there's any real-world reason to keep trying with the heavy gun. I've already changed the handguard for a lighter one, gone to a low-profile gas block instead of the big flip-sight one that came on it, and gave up on the 1-4x scope (1.5 pounds with mount!) in favor of a 5-oz red-dot. There's not much more to do short of changing the barrel itself, and I'm reaching my point of "I've dumped enough cash into this project".
In my mind, I liked having the iron-sighted gun for teaching purposes and for lightweight packing, and the heavier gun for... well, I'm not sure what for. It's the first rifle I ever bought and it was a good deal when I got it, which may have been more motivation than deliberation I'm not into rapid-fire, which is the only time I feel the heavy barrel has a serious advantage over the thinner profile.
I'm considering keeping the lightweight gun as-is, adding a higher-magnification scope and bipod to the RRA for use as a more dedicated "long-range" gun, and perhaps building a tacticool upper with a red-dot or whatever, that could go on either of the lowers. OR, selling the RRA and being done with it... I do love to tinker though.
I realize this was a bit rambling, but I'd be curious what opinions people might have on the situation.
Thanks!