Need some Black rifle advice

[Stealther]

I've got a commando style preban Bushmaster shorty (11.5"bbl with 4.5" FS, BL etc) with an A1 configuration. I'm really wanting to get a holosight for it and like the flexibility of the A3 design.

This rifle's purpose is close quarters fighting and plinking so I'm not really concerned with the loss of potential velocity with the short barrel, however I'm wondering if the newer flash supressors are more effective than the oe I have now.

I'm thinking of a few scenarios:

1. change the upper receiver to an A3 and leave everything else as-is.
2. sell the A1 commando upper and put the funds towards a M4 style upper
3. keep it the way it is, what was I thinking?

Any thoughts?

 

[Black Snowman]

Personally I always thought the long flash-hiders / brakes to get the legal barrel lenth were a bit silly. I'd rather have a 16" barrel with a normal flash hider or even just bare. But that's me.

You might look for more opinons on ARFcom. They have plenty to spare

 

[Blackhawk 6]

My $.02:

When you say close-quarters fighting, I am assuming some sort of home defense scenario. A 16"-barrel AR-15 is a pretty effective home defense tool, optic or not. Personally, I would put some money toward a good light and call it good.

 

[Darkside]

Get a "goose neck" mount that attaches to the carring handle and extends out above the hand guards and call it good. Put your HOLO sight out as far as you can. Having the sight out as far as possible gives you a better feild of view. Make sure your "goose neck" allows you to co-wittness your HOLO with the A2 sights, that way if you don't get the HOLO turned on or the batteries fail...ect. you are still "in the fight"

I don't see any problem with your barrel for the use you describe, I would save the money for ammo

Keep us updated

Darkside

 

[Beren]

Consider a sound suppressor for your rifle if legal in your state, and if you have the patience to jump through the ATF hoops. Your ears will thank you for it if you ever really have to use it!

 

[Kaylee]

My vote's for trading off the old upper and getting an M4 style. I'm sure there's a Cold War history nut out there somewhere who'd love a legal-mostly-period-correct upper, and you'd get what you want.

And yeah.. if you gotta have 16", makes sense to make most all of it real barrel. Maybe a 14.5" with a pinned FS if you really want short-but-legal.

 

[NMshooter]

Flattop receivers are nice, you have a choice between carry handle or not. The Phantom and Vortex flash suppressors work well, and when permanently attached to a 14.5" barrel are within minimum legal length.

The light is a very nice thing to have, so is an optic.

A 16" barrel is not much longer with a flash suppressor on it.

Just a few points to consider.

 

[zougou]

I concur with Darkside, get the mount and the red dot and call it good.

 

[Darkside]

Hey Look someone Concurred with me. Thanks Zougou.

If I was buying NEW there is no doubt I would go the flattop/detatchable route. Since he already has the A2 upper I personally couldn't justify spending another $100-150 maybe into $200 to accomplish the same thing.



BTW Stealther, if you switch out the upper I might be interested in taking it off your hands.

Darkside

 

[Stealther]

Hmm I thought about the gooseneck idea, but the gooseneck I tried (generic one) didn't clear my Surefire M500AB handguard. Any suggestion on one that clears them?

 

[Darkside]

Just looked up the SF 500 and I have to say Man thats a lot of stuff up there.

If you are set on the HOLO sight you may have to go to a flat top. I don't know if you could squeeeeze it in there or not.

Let us know what you figure out.

Darkside