KISS?

[Chris Rhines]

Keep It Simple, Stupid. We've all heard it, often in Rifle Country threads featuring extravagantly customized AR-15s. The implication is usually that a 'serious' rifleman only needs iron sights and maybe a sling, and that optics, lights, lasers, vertical foregrips, etc., are all the domain of the poseur and the military wannabe.

KISS. It's a load of horse manure, and I'm sick of hearing it.

The mindless pursuit of simplicity is every bit as foolish as the thoughtless addition of accessories to one's weapon. Some of those accessories can significantly enhance the capability of the shooter. The U.S. Army is not issuing every boot 11B an Aimpoint M68 because they look cool - they're issuing them because the addition of the Aimpoint makes the M4 easier to get hits with. Same with the vertical foregrip that I'm presently evaluating on my 3-gun rifle - I find that it's a useful index point when shooting offhand, and is handy as a rest for shooting around/over/under/through barricades. Those are just two examples, out of thousands.

There's another saying that I like better - 'Mission Drives the Gear Train.' When you're looking at an accessory for your gun, do so with a purpose in mind. Ask yourself, "What do I want to do with this gun, and how will this optic/light/trigger/whatever help me do that more effectively?' If your mission is best served with a stripped-down, bare bones carbine, excellent. If your mission is best served with five grand in bolt-on parts, that's fine too. Break out the credit card with a clear conscience, and tell the 'KISS' advocates to meet you at the range.

-C

 

[Gordon_Freeman]

I agree. I like having options on a rifle.

 

[mljdeckard]

The obvious danger is that people get so wrapped up in the gear, they think it will do the job FOR them. They need to learn the fundamentals BEFORE they start adding things on.

As I have gotten older and more experienced, I put on less and less, not more and more.

 

[Robert]

Chris you are right. I like irons and think that everyone should at least have a working knowledge of their use, but I love my optic. Optics, lights, grips, and laser all have a role to play. If you need, or just really want, one then by all means knock your self out.

And depending on the game you play some of the bits can really come in handy. Justin just showed me a set of off set irons for the AR that includes a real A2 rear sight. Would make engaging those close in paper targets a bit easier. Are they needed, no. Would they be pretty nifty and help close in shooting, you bet.

 

[True Grit]

I live my life by K.I.S.S. but I never really let it stop me from doing what I want to my guns. "What ever floats your boat." I like that one = ]

 

[Balrog]

I like to keep it simple, but to me that includes a red dot sight, and depending on the gun, a mounted light.

 

[jobu07]

I like to think I kept my issue M4 simple. It wore a standard flip up rear sight, M68, Tactical Tailor 3 point, and a KAC quad rail that had only 2 items on it - a PEQ-15 and a Surefire fitted to the right side. I manipulated the Surefire with my support hand pinky.

I would not put a vertical grip on because it was one more piece of gear to get caught up on the various wires, cords, and harnesses in the front of a MRAP and in the turret of a M2A3. When rapidly exiting the vehicle, I didn't want to have to fight to get the weapon free from something it was hung up on.

The 3 point laid across the left hand side of the quad rail making it fairly useless, so I stuck a rail cover on it. Likewise, the bottom work a rail cover because I didn't utilize it. I do enjoy the aesthetics of a quad rail that is outfitted with your choice of gear and proper rail covers as well. I also enjoy the look for standard handguards.

Some guys like a lot of stuff on there - some don't. If it works for YOU, then use it. Just think about what you'll be using the carbine for and what may limit you. Then work around that. Many of my Soldiers enjoyed the vertical grip. Many enjoyed the "grip-pod." Personally, I hate those things. But that's neither here nor there.

My personal AR-15 16" carbine wears a KAC quad rail, Surefire on the right side, bare rail on top, and covers on the left and bottom. It also wears a Tactical Tailor 3 point sling along with a EoTech and standard flip up rear sight. That is simple and functional to me. This is, also, the only AR-15 I have that has optics - everything else is accessory free. For what it's worth, I shoot the rifles with standard irons a heckuva lot more than the one with the EoTech.

v/r

 

[Shadow 7D]

'Mission Drives the Gear Train.'

^^^^^^^^^^^^
It's personal taste
somepeople know how to use the tool they add to their AR
other, well, lets just say, that a magnifier on a holographic sight through a night vision scope,
and the other 'stuff'
for a guy who has never had to walk a mile, let alone 30 in a grunts boots

Yeah, it looks TAKIKOOL
his money, I just shake my head and say, yeah nice man....

 

[nwilliams]

People have the right to put what they want on their own guns. People shouldn't feel like they can't make their gun look the way they want just because some people think that KISS is the better way.

 

[zstephens13]

KISS doesn't necessarily mean "iron sights only," but drop what isn't necessary and keep what is needed to complete the task the rifle is designed for.

 

[NeuseRvrRat]

folks have been putting useless crap on firearms for a while now

 

[ny32182]

I've noticed the consistent rule with most people who are worried about the next guy's stuff is that whatever they have is great, and whatever most other people have is crap. Trying to make any sense of it beyond that is futile.

 

[LKB3rd]

To me, KISS on an AR means what you are saying (mission determines gear). The minimum amount of stuff to do what you want/need to do.

 

[NWCP]

My rifles aren't bare bones, but they are minimalist in nature. They wear only what I find is necessary for the task(s) at hand. To each his own. There's a great deal of positive to be said for the KISS principle.

 

[sansone]

yes I like barebones but being older than dirt I can't see the rear sight anymore. Too darn close (had my arms lengthened too)
Sooo.. I put scopes on my rifles now. 20 yrs ago I thought scopes were a waste of money.

 

[788Ham]

Post #11, is that Folgers leaking out the bottom? LOL

 

[BikerRN]

I live by the KISS motto when it comes to my guns.

That does not mean that my guns are "stock" but rather that my selection of gear is determined by what I'm using the rifle for. I make additions to my rifle slowly and with much thought, using gear that has been proven to work.

I do not buy the latest tacticool gadget just because my neighbor has one on his rifle, as his needs may be different than mine. Perhaps KISS is the wrong teminology to use, but it seems to work to a suitable degree. It's easier to say than to write a ten page position paper on why I want a simple push-button flashlight mounted on my rifle, or an EO Tech.

BikerRN

 

[TonyAngel]

I think that KISS is a relative expression that suggests that you should have what you need and neither more nor less. If you have less than you need, it isn't simple, it's deficient.

 

[CraigC]

My AR has everything I need and nothing I don't. What I resent is the implication that if you have anything other than a basic AR, you are a "mall ninja". While I find it extremely difficult to operate in the dark, which I do rather frequently, without a mounted light. It is also difficult to mount that light without a quad rail. It is also difficult to operate that light without a vertical foregrip. Thus, everything has a purpose and there is a purpose for everything present. If you need less, that is fine. Just don't be so arrogant as to assume that everybody else's needs are identical to your own.

 

[MtnCreek]

To be a true operator, your rifle must hold as many batteries as bullets! Kidding!

I don't get it why so many people worry about other peoples stuff. If I want to duct tape roman candles to my rifle, that's my business!

 

[jeepguy]

i try to live my life in the kiss mode. however i believe if you want optics thats fine, as long as you have backup irons and know how to use them. i have an aimpoint on my m1a but it is co witnessed with my irons on a ultimak rail. it added alot of weight & cost but it was the only way i could accomplish both of these. my theory is if it can fail it will.

 

[MCMXI]

I've been trying out the MAGPUL AFG on an AR and Vz.58 for a few months now but have decided that I don't particularly like them or find them to be ergonomic. After trying a friend's TangoDown stubby vertical grip on his Noveske at the last match a couple of weeks ago, I was surprised at how ergonomic it was. I'll admit that I've looked at vertical grips in an unfavorable light, but after trying the TangoDown I realized that they really help offhand, rapid shooting. I bought and installed a LaRue FUG last week and am looking forward to this weekend's match.

 

[Andrewsky]

Well an Aimpoint is one thing.

Putting $300 worth of colored furniture on your AR is quite another.

The other thing is weight. You find that hardly anybody actually just buys an M1A to use like a battle rifle anymore. Mine has a synthetic stock with a 3" picatinny rail bolted on it to hold a pistol light on the left side. It has a Smith Enterprise Vortex and hooded gas lock front sight. Other guys will have an M1A with a $700 stock that makes the gun weigh 5 more lbs, a scope mount, a giant 10x or more scope, etc. Then they can't even lift the thing.

 

[CraigC]

Putting $300 worth of colored furniture on your AR is quite another

If you're changing your furniture anyway, which typically results in much better quality components, higher shooter comfort and increased utility, what difference does the color make???

 

[Andrewsky]

If you're changing your furniture anyway, which typically results in much better quality components, higher shooter comfort and increased utility, what difference does the color make???

You must be one of them.