Its a firearm, not a Swiss Army knife.

[hq]

The number of people using an AR as a long range hunting weapon, or backwoods survival rifle would be lower, I would think.

Probably. My most frequently used .223:s (hunting) spend 99% of their time on a sling on my back when I carry a shotgun so weight is crucial. Especially when walking 10-14 hours a day. On big game hunts a large frame rifle has to be carried too, and even a moderately heavy .308 gets uncomfortable pretty quickly. On treestands and driven hunts weight doesn't matter that much, but when things start to happen they can happen very quickly making low weight and low inertia - the core feature of an AR - an advantage.

A 10-14" pencil barrel carbine with an alloy suppressor, a lightweight telestock and scope is ideal for what I mainly use AR:s for. The R-25 is a fantastic rifle for any form of stationary hunting but if I need to walk, move or stalk, I'll choose something else. I'll probably have to look into putting together an ultralight AR in .308 in the future, perhaps. I love the guns, I just hate the bulk I don't need.

 

[marksman13]

I would assume so also, but how often does the need to reload come up in a home defense scenario?

The reason he has the reload is because he is going on hikes with the AR and out in the middle of no where. While that is certainly a good reason to have an AR with you, I do not feel it is the most common usage of an AR, which is what I was trying to keep this thread about.

As far as slings go, I like them for all applications except home defense.

If the need to reload came up ONCE in the history of home defense it would justify the additional weight of a spare mag for me. You like to keep your rifles bare bones and simple. There’s nothing at all wrong with that if that is your preference. Other people feel the need for additional gear on their rifles. I’m not sure I understand why you chose this particular hill to die on. The biggest advantage of the AR-15 is it’s modularity and it’s ability to adapt to different missions. Why do you feel the need to chastise folks for taking advantage of these benefits?

As far as slings on home defense rifles and shotguns, after some force on force training I’m convinced that a sling is needed in home defense. A good two point, adjustable sling keeps your long gun close to your body and allows your hands to be free while maintaining retention of your rifle if things get physical in close quarters. We don’t get to set the distance we may be fighting from. The last thing I want to do is have to decide between getting somebody off of me, and holding on to my rifle.

 

[Balrog]

If the need to reload came up ONCE in the history of home defense it would justify the additional weight of a spare mag for me. You like to keep your rifles bare bones and simple. There’s nothing at all wrong with that if that is your preference. Other people feel the need for additional gear on their rifles. I’m not sure I understand why you chose this particular hill to die on. The biggest advantage of the AR-15 is it’s modularity and it’s ability to adapt to different missions. Why do you feel the need to chastise folks for taking advantage of these benefits?

As far as slings on home defense rifles and shotguns, after some force on force training I’m convinced that a sling is needed in home defense. A good two point, adjustable sling keeps your long gun close to your body and allows your hands to be free while maintaining retention of your rifle if things get physical in close quarters. We don’t get to set the distance we may be fighting from. The last thing I want to do is have to decide between getting somebody off of me, and holding on to my rifle.

Not my hill to die on at all, just don't see the logic in some of the decisions people make. Like I have said though, not opposed to anyone putting whatever they want on their AR.

I do think that if you could attach a "maneuverability" accessory to a picatinny rail, most people would want one. But there is no such accessory. Maneuverability comes built in to the AR as long as you don't add so much weight to the gun.

 

[Skylerbone]

The other great thing about “the Swiss Army Knife” is they sell tiny versions for keychains that allow you to clip a torn nail or pick out a splinter, the Champion that does everything including making toast with the magnifying glass, and dozens? of models in between to suit owners’ needs. That’s called practicality in my book and precisely what attracted me to the AR 15.

The point of the thread is that most (not all) AR's are used for plinking, short range hunting, or self defense, and probably don't have to have 5 pounds of stuff added to them to do their job just fine.

That might be your perception of reality, I don’t know that it’s really so. What I see, or my perception of pictures here on THR are rifles with sensible accessories; adjustable gas blocks to match hand loads, suppressors to keep noise down, red dots for quick sighting or scopes for precision shooting, barrel lengths and twist that match task, and comfortable stocks for said same.

A thread like this is as was pointed out; a rebuke of others of what you perceive to be unnecessary. Walking it back doesn’t change the title or original post and I think we get what you mean, even agreeing in part if discussing SD/HD, but if this is a think piece, the portion for disagreement seems narrowed by the OP.

 

[drobs]

I too like a bare bones AR as long it has the basics - iron sights & a sling.

I need to find a basic black cloth GI sling for this one. Hoping to bump into one cheap at a gun show / shop.

This one is just so handy:

 

[Balrog]

The other great thing about “the Swiss Army Knife” is they sell tiny versions for keychains that allow you to clip a torn nail or pick out a splinter, the Champion that does everything including making toast with the magnifying glass, and dozens? of models in between to suit owners’ needs. That’s called practicality in my book and precisely what attracted me to the AR 15.



That might be your perception of reality, I don’t know that it’s really so. What I see, or my perception of pictures here on THR are rifles with sensible accessories; adjustable gas blocks to match hand loads, suppressors to keep noise down, red dots for quick sighting or scopes for precision shooting, barrel lengths and twist that match task, and comfortable stocks for said same.

A thread like this is as was pointed out; a rebuke of others of what you perceive to be unnecessary. Walking it back doesn’t change the title or original post and I think we get what you mean, even agreeing in part if discussing SD/HD, but if this is a think piece, the portion for disagreement seems narrowed by the OP.

You really think the majority of AR's are not used mainly for plinking and home defense? I don't know. I would think they are since most are sold from the manufacturer in a configuration that makes more sense for home defense than long range shooting. I sure see a lot more from the factory set up in a home defense type configuration than a hunting configuration.

 

[Varminterror]

I think I personally don’t care what @Balrog thinks I should do or not do with my AR’s, or any other rifles.

 

[Balrog]

I think I personally don’t care what @Balrog thinks I should do or not do with my AR’s, or any other rifles.

Well I thought this was a civil discussion... I apologize for offending you.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Harder to imagine why I need to carry an extra mag for home defense.

The same reason it is wise to carry a spare mag for a self defense pistol regardless of capacity, to clear a type 2 malfunction.

 

[DustyGmt]

This is my new bedside gun. I believe I'm going to leave it as is, although I will be adding a light. It's kind of hard for me to refrain from adding things because I like suited and booted but I have other guns that will suit that role.

 

[gotboostvr]

Bare bones is an option but even then the choice of higher end barrels is limited. Pretty much all the nicer ones, from HK to KAC and even most off-the-shelf Noveskes are riddled with more rails than Union Station and furniture pretty far from mil-std. Not that swapping them to much lighter, bare-hand-friendly items is difficult but the whole principle of equipping nearly all higher end rifles this way seems a bit strange to me.

BCM sells a buncha uppers sans handguards that you could pop some MOE handguards on. Their nitrided SS barrel is very high quality.

 

[bearcreek]

You really think the majority of AR's are not used mainly for plinking and home defense?

I think most are used to collect dust in a closet, unfortunately. I think if people went and got some good, professional training and then regularly practiced what they learned in that training they would quickly find out what they should and shouldn't have on their rifle.

 

[bearcreek]

I used the term in the common meaning (sold without furniture) but mil-std furniture is also uncommon in higher end AR:s.

News to me. Maybe that "common meaning" is a European thing as well. Normally, when someone says "bare bones" here, they mean something has the minimum needed to be operational, which for an AR would mean that it has some sort of handguard, a stock and sights. Just semantics really.
You'll find, FWIW, that, at least in the US military, those who have a choice rarely choose "mil-std" furniture (which would include a full 0, 90, 180, 270 pic rail, BTW). Keymod or M-Lok handguards are lower profile, lighter, stronger and allow for a free float barrel. To each his own.

 

[Skylerbone]

You really think the majority of AR's are not used mainly for plinking and home defense? I don't know. I would think they are since most are sold from the manufacturer in a configuration that makes more sense for home defense than long range shooting.

I cannot claim to have an eidetic memory for that which does not interest me, nor do I seek out sales records of what sells best. What I can recall with fair clarity, and it makes sense, is a constant voice or two of reason imploring would be first time owners to buy simple and give it a try. For most that will be enough; a PSA or M&P or Ruger to know if they like the platform.

Again when it comes to accessorizing I find a wealth of common sense approach with the occasional what were they thinking? My own journey started with a rather expensive ergonomic nightmare that I finally “unlearned” by shooting enough configurations, which lead to buying what I thought I would want. And it was, except that I bought it for my wife, and so I bought another. Things progressed from there and I am fortunate enough to have a few set up for specific conditions. The accessories are what I consider “bare bones” for that particular use. Others may own but one rifle to do it all but that is none of my business.

This is my basic 16” middy. It will wear a light and irons only, has a small hand stop/barricade bump and enlarged trigger guard for cold weather.

 

[bassjam]

I think the trend is going back to more "minimalist" AR15's. When quad rails came out and accessories popped up for them, I think a lot of shooters were like kids in candy stores wanting to try as many things as possible. Now that the accessory market has "matured" a little you're seeing the MLOK forends that are more streamlined and I think people are starting to back off a little. I swear it seems like I'm seeing more and more classic A2 builds now than I used to. And some of the flak of heavy AR's comes from guys posting tongue-in-cheek pictures with everything they own attached.

I tried to go lightweight (for my budget) and accessory free for my home defense build. Eventually I'll probably add a flashlight and sling, but I want to get more range time in with it before it takes the place of my M&P.

 

[Balrog]

The same reason it is wise to carry a spare mag for a self defense pistol regardless of capacity, to clear a type 2 malfunction.

How do attach spare mag to gun?

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

How do attach spare mag to gun?

I don't.

 

[gotboostvr]

How do attach spare mag to gun?

There's a buncha ways. There's clip on mag couplers that hold two mags side by side, there's buttstock mounted mag pouches, I think there's a buttstock that'll hold a spare 20rd mag and then theres the always popular field expident taping two together upside down.

 

[jmr40]

Actually, AR's are designed to be like Swiss Army knives. But some people like their SAK's to only have one blade and a couple of tools. Others like a lot of tools.


Some like these.
https://www.smkw.com/vic-evolution-s54-tool-chest-plus-red-bx-v04422

Others these

https://www.smkw.com/victorinox-recruit-red-composition-clampack

Nothing wrong with either option. Personally I prefer to keep things fairly simple and instead of trying to make one AR do everything I have 3 set up differently. Nothing right of wrong with that approach either.

 

[mustanger98]

That makes sense. The premise of this thread though is AR configurations for home defense and general plinking. Harder to imagine why I need to carry an extra mag for home defense.

Hopefully nobody has to find this out, but let's say there's a home invasion... we may not know how many perps until the dust settles. One full 20rd or 30rd would be good... two would probably be better, without getting all ninja'd up, just because you don't know what you don't know.

 

[bearcreek]

There's a buncha ways. There's clip on mag couplers that hold two mags side by side, there's buttstock mounted mag pouches, I think there's a buttstock that'll hold a spare 20rd mag and then theres the always popular field expident taping two together upside down.

I think he was asking about pistols. Not really any good way to attach a spare mag to a pistol that I know of. (Assuming we're talking about normal, actual pistols with the magazine in the handle and not AR "pistols" or similar).

 

[Dr.Rob]

Simple is good on a short range / house gun.

 

[Balrog]

I don't.

I don't see how its part of the discussion then. I am talking about stuff attached to the gun.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

I don't see how its part of the discussion then. I am talking about stuff attached to the gun.

Just replying to why an extra mag.

That makes sense. The premise of this thread though is AR configurations for home defense and general plinking. Harder to imagine why I need to carry an extra mag for home defense.

 

[drobs]

How do attach spare mag to gun?

https://zahal.org/product/fab-defense-glock-9mm-magazine-to-foregrip-floorplate-attachment/

You asked...