What is the best Mod you've added to your AR15?
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usmarine0352_2005
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Because of this thread I am going to add the BCM Gunfighter charging handle Mod 5 (smallest).
And also an Ergo Gapper and Tactical Link Enhanced Battery Assist Lever.
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Because of this thread I am going to add the BCM Gunfighter charging handle Mod 5 (smallest).
And also an Ergo Gapper and Tactical Link Enhanced Battery Assist Lever.
.
christcorp
Member
Some people take the newer more modern approach of keeping your finger on the trigger, and charging with your none trigger hand. (I don't, but some do). As such, the Mod-3 has a nice size ear on it. It's quite easy to charge it with the first finger of your right hand. If you like to charge with your shooting hand; which I do, because it keeps the weapon better balanced, then it's real easy to charge with the fatty palm of the left hand. Mind you, my preference is for that of a "Left Handed Shooter".
A standard charging handle is fine for most, but the ear is too small if you try and use your opposite hand to cross over. Better would be a true ambidextrous charging handle, but I didn't like the quality of the others compared to the BCMGunfighter. And like I said; I chose the mod-3 because I wanted the larger ear.
OregonJohnny
Member
Since my only AR is a S&W M&P 15 OR (Optics Ready) that came with no front or rear sight, my best mod was a Magpul flip up rear sight and a UTG removable front sight for the gas block rail. Had to have sights, you know.
Most of my other mods have been for ergonomic/functional reasons (UTG quad rail, red dot with QD rings, front sling mount, vertical fore grip, offset flashlight mount with flashlight, magpul grip, magpul stock, extended buttstock pad, Magpul battery assist lever, 2-point sling, and extended charging latch). The only non-functional mod has been the 3 different colors of Magpul XTM rail covers. Even though they do help with holding onto the rail, they're mostly there to make the rifle look cool.
If I had to take everything off again except for 1 mod, I'd obviously keep the front and rear sights.
Most of my other mods have been for ergonomic/functional reasons (UTG quad rail, red dot with QD rings, front sling mount, vertical fore grip, offset flashlight mount with flashlight, magpul grip, magpul stock, extended buttstock pad, Magpul battery assist lever, 2-point sling, and extended charging latch). The only non-functional mod has been the 3 different colors of Magpul XTM rail covers. Even though they do help with holding onto the rail, they're mostly there to make the rifle look cool.
If I had to take everything off again except for 1 mod, I'd obviously keep the front and rear sights.
leadaddict
Member
Best mod = a shoulder thing that goes up.
Please note, I didn't recommend altering any part of the sear engagement whatsoever. The AR is notorious for NOT being the gun to do that. As I said, even experienced triggersmiths suffer from the parts getting past the casehardening and going bad. Bill Thompson does that job, and Bill Thompson also has some of those customer supplied triggers go soft according to his customers. It's not Bill fault - he can't control the parts hardness. It's the owners fault - they are modifying the trigger, whether it's paid to be done or on their kitchen table makes no difference, 500+ rounds later it starts doubling.
Hence, the point: Overall, the shooter CAN modify the trigger, it's just that some modifications are better than others. Installing the travel adjustment screw contributes MORE that the problem plagued stoning and fitting, and an owner should - I say again - be advised to do what they know WILL work, not what they could very well screw up.
If it's a field, duty, or self defense weapon, the owner really has no valid reason to alter the trigger weight of pull until they are experienced and trained in combatives or other stress conditioning. MOST of the light target triggers installed in AR's aren't justified. It's a combat weapon, not a bench rest toy, regardless of how the owner want's to use it. Not really the optimum tool for doing exactly what a 14 pound accurized bolt action can do better. We just like to tinker with things with inherent deficiencies and make them do what others think can't be done for our own ego trip. Just exactly like cars, same testosterone challenged logic.
For those inclined to put on a sling, be advised, the Infantry School policy was to take them off in combat. Slings are a CQB, MP, street patrol accessory, not a combat warrior option in a free fire zone. It hangs up on anything sticking out, and limits using the weapon as a striking tool. You CAN'T buttstroke an opponent with a sling limiting forward motion, and the sling CAN be used against you to throw you off balance.
No accessory is foolproof, every one has a disadvantage that needs to be considered, then the utility weighed to see if what it does improve on is worth doing in the OVERALL balance of what is needed. Sling? Not so much, I'd remove it in any vehicular transport on patrol, and wouldn't use it in the field, either. I do put them on hunting rifles because I can use it walking out of the field after shooting hours. Stand hunting or stalking is much more controlled than three second rushes at combat speed in dense cover - where getting hung up would leave you exposed to enemy counterfire while you dangle like a scarecrow in the wind.
Too many accessories are range and competition oriented - not combat, and what the Army issues is all combat, not competition. If it doesn't have it on there, they might have had good reason. About all the Marines did is add the Norgon ambi release. I don't see huge paddle latch charging handles, large trigger guards, sling point plates, modular grips, mag well grips, compensators/brakes, or most of the rest of what is marketed for the AR.
If anything, take a long look at the XCR, ACR, ARX, etc and see exactly how much of that super gee whiz stuff isn't on them - and they are designed and being marketed to governments world wide as the next generation combat weapon. Gotta wonder why American shooters with no combat experience or even military service continue to get sucked in deeper with tactical accessories for a quiet sunny Sunday at the range. Their own government and it's professionally trained users avoid the stuff like the plague it is.
Hence, the point: Overall, the shooter CAN modify the trigger, it's just that some modifications are better than others. Installing the travel adjustment screw contributes MORE that the problem plagued stoning and fitting, and an owner should - I say again - be advised to do what they know WILL work, not what they could very well screw up.
If it's a field, duty, or self defense weapon, the owner really has no valid reason to alter the trigger weight of pull until they are experienced and trained in combatives or other stress conditioning. MOST of the light target triggers installed in AR's aren't justified. It's a combat weapon, not a bench rest toy, regardless of how the owner want's to use it. Not really the optimum tool for doing exactly what a 14 pound accurized bolt action can do better. We just like to tinker with things with inherent deficiencies and make them do what others think can't be done for our own ego trip. Just exactly like cars, same testosterone challenged logic.
For those inclined to put on a sling, be advised, the Infantry School policy was to take them off in combat. Slings are a CQB, MP, street patrol accessory, not a combat warrior option in a free fire zone. It hangs up on anything sticking out, and limits using the weapon as a striking tool. You CAN'T buttstroke an opponent with a sling limiting forward motion, and the sling CAN be used against you to throw you off balance.
No accessory is foolproof, every one has a disadvantage that needs to be considered, then the utility weighed to see if what it does improve on is worth doing in the OVERALL balance of what is needed. Sling? Not so much, I'd remove it in any vehicular transport on patrol, and wouldn't use it in the field, either. I do put them on hunting rifles because I can use it walking out of the field after shooting hours. Stand hunting or stalking is much more controlled than three second rushes at combat speed in dense cover - where getting hung up would leave you exposed to enemy counterfire while you dangle like a scarecrow in the wind.
Too many accessories are range and competition oriented - not combat, and what the Army issues is all combat, not competition. If it doesn't have it on there, they might have had good reason. About all the Marines did is add the Norgon ambi release. I don't see huge paddle latch charging handles, large trigger guards, sling point plates, modular grips, mag well grips, compensators/brakes, or most of the rest of what is marketed for the AR.
If anything, take a long look at the XCR, ACR, ARX, etc and see exactly how much of that super gee whiz stuff isn't on them - and they are designed and being marketed to governments world wide as the next generation combat weapon. Gotta wonder why American shooters with no combat experience or even military service continue to get sucked in deeper with tactical accessories for a quiet sunny Sunday at the range. Their own government and it's professionally trained users avoid the stuff like the plague it is.
Red Cent
Member
".....It's a combat weapon, not a bench rest toy, regardless of how the owner want's to use it......."
It was originally intended as a combat weapon. As expected the commercial world got hold of it. Les Baer comes to mind.
I agree with the content but not the context.
First, the AR lends itself to accuracy. A well constructed AR is very capable of MOA. So it became a bench rest toy. It became one of three guns used as a toy. It is used on the varmint field. They are notoriously strong on the 600 yard field. To many of us, who couldn't or didn't go to dangerous places, it is a toy. 10-22 on steroids.
The context, after all that has been typed, seems to say, don't mess with the AR.
"......getting past the casehardening and going bad......". Again, I agree. Light polish won't hurt it.
The lowly 10-22 has a negative interface with the sear and hammer. I, and others, remove this immediately.
On both weapons, the trigger is camming the hammer out of the way. Very safe. But a lousy trigger.
Maybe this gimpy old guy can't see what you see. But it can be a toy. Or a combat weapon.
It was originally intended as a combat weapon. As expected the commercial world got hold of it. Les Baer comes to mind.
I agree with the content but not the context.
First, the AR lends itself to accuracy. A well constructed AR is very capable of MOA. So it became a bench rest toy. It became one of three guns used as a toy. It is used on the varmint field. They are notoriously strong on the 600 yard field. To many of us, who couldn't or didn't go to dangerous places, it is a toy. 10-22 on steroids.
The context, after all that has been typed, seems to say, don't mess with the AR.
"......getting past the casehardening and going bad......". Again, I agree. Light polish won't hurt it.
The lowly 10-22 has a negative interface with the sear and hammer. I, and others, remove this immediately.
On both weapons, the trigger is camming the hammer out of the way. Very safe. But a lousy trigger.
Maybe this gimpy old guy can't see what you see. But it can be a toy. Or a combat weapon.
Red Cent
Member
So is this. I had Douglas Barrel barrel it that way. On purpose
. Then i removed all the wood that didn't look like a benchrest/varmint rifle. 22-250.
. Then i removed all the wood that didn't look like a benchrest/varmint rifle. 22-250.
Cosmoline
Member
? Most of us aren't using AR's with the expectation of being combat warriors in a free fire zone.
I agree with you that less is more, but most people aren't using AR-15's for military purposes. They are range guns for most of us. The M-16's and M-4's are another matter, but they're rare as hen's teeth outside the military.
Besides, there's not much you are permitted to do with a government issued rifle. That limitation is inapplicable to a rifle or carbine you own yourself.
Even if the intended use is self defense, with some cross-over application to combat uses, the civilian's requirements are different. A big bright tactical light, for example, would probably not be a wise choice for some special ops squad trying to be sneaky. But it's essential for someone defending their home stateside. Unless you want to go to prison for shooting your drunk and unarmed neighbor who had the wrong house.
Lakedaemonian
Member
Major- Noveske Midi Afgan Barrel
Minor- Rolling Cam Pin (forgot who makes them, LWRC I think, but good job guys!)
Minor- Rolling Cam Pin (forgot who makes them, LWRC I think, but good job guys!)
You certainly can use military arms for civilian uses. I'm finishing up an AR build for hunting. No free float, rifle handguards, 16" barrel, A1 stock, TD Battlegrip, A3 flattop. It's all - every inch - in Foliage Green. 6.8SPC.
It'll get a simple silent sling in OD, if I can remember where I put it.
Old military bolt actions were the #1 source of custom guns in the day, and most intended to improve them for specific purposes. Yes, you can accurize and shoot AR's in long distance competition. They are 14 pound monsters, not suitable for carry as self defense weapons.
It's the other trend I'm commenting on - the excessive tacticalization of an combat weapon beyond what it's already issued to do. Octagonal quad rails? Gunfighter charging handles? 4X12 scopes with bipods on 16" M4geries?
KAC is in print saying the average civilian shooter doesn't even need there quad rail. Gunfighter charging handles are for Three Gun - with a bolt hold open, the only time you use the charging handle as an Infantryman is loading once BEFORE you step out of the wire. After that, the gun helps you by being ready to chamber after you insert a full mag. Just slap the button with your mag hand and start targeting again.
There's about one SERT shooter per metro that needs that last gun. Walk down a range on a sunny Saturday afternoon, you see sniper carbines all the time.
The excessive focus on tacticalizing the AR beyond what professionals use worldwide for combat is entirely civilian fantasy. Even home defense, that cover phrase for "TEOTWAWKI" or zombie invasion, not so much. Over 90% of homeowners would use a pistol in 9mm, 40, or .45 to check out a noise in the night, and the serious ones have a CCW - which is really difficult with an AR. Really.
It's just Big Boys Playing With Big Toys. It's not going to get any better with a gamer generation raised on fantasy battles and NO service related experience. That's already a problem, only one in one hundred have prior service. In my generation, it was one in ten.
Bluntly, most guys these days don't have a clue and don't know what they are talking about. They haven't taken their turn on watch at 0'dark thirty, never learned how to keep their closet straight, don't know how to make up a bunkbed, much less the finer points of what you do to stay alive as taught by survivors.
Most of what is sold on the market to them is bling to bleed money out of their wallet. They defend it by making up extremist examples only a few percent of actual duty bound shooters ever see. It's a game of justifying 1% solutions and using all of them as a guideline for buying increasingly hyped tactical accessories - and since they own them, they claim more more of "what it takes, so I'm better than you."
Testosterone talking, not real lessons learned and taught. Combat isn't a one on one shooter game, it's the orchestration of multiple assets to control the battlefield. One shooter is just one shooter, the Army has a MG team, multiple shooters, hand grenades, crew served weapons out of sight, and coordination with other units left, right, and in armored vehicles. Much more like calling plays in football, with the necessary foresight to be aware of the next worst case situation that the other guy intends to implement if he sees it.
Most geegaws and gizmos wont' increase hit probability - a gunfighter handle doesn't get you on target any faster than a regular issue charging handle in combat, because you really don't use it at all. What does is practice, practice, practice. The major segment of time for any combat unit prepping for action is in rehearsal - not figuring out which newly marketed item from SHOT they need to order, dang, it won't ship in time for the shoot.
You learn to use what you have with a high degree of skill, not what to order to appear like those dudes in that photo op.
It'll get a simple silent sling in OD, if I can remember where I put it.
Old military bolt actions were the #1 source of custom guns in the day, and most intended to improve them for specific purposes. Yes, you can accurize and shoot AR's in long distance competition. They are 14 pound monsters, not suitable for carry as self defense weapons.
It's the other trend I'm commenting on - the excessive tacticalization of an combat weapon beyond what it's already issued to do. Octagonal quad rails? Gunfighter charging handles? 4X12 scopes with bipods on 16" M4geries?
KAC is in print saying the average civilian shooter doesn't even need there quad rail. Gunfighter charging handles are for Three Gun - with a bolt hold open, the only time you use the charging handle as an Infantryman is loading once BEFORE you step out of the wire. After that, the gun helps you by being ready to chamber after you insert a full mag. Just slap the button with your mag hand and start targeting again.
There's about one SERT shooter per metro that needs that last gun. Walk down a range on a sunny Saturday afternoon, you see sniper carbines all the time.
The excessive focus on tacticalizing the AR beyond what professionals use worldwide for combat is entirely civilian fantasy. Even home defense, that cover phrase for "TEOTWAWKI" or zombie invasion, not so much. Over 90% of homeowners would use a pistol in 9mm, 40, or .45 to check out a noise in the night, and the serious ones have a CCW - which is really difficult with an AR. Really.
It's just Big Boys Playing With Big Toys. It's not going to get any better with a gamer generation raised on fantasy battles and NO service related experience. That's already a problem, only one in one hundred have prior service. In my generation, it was one in ten.
Bluntly, most guys these days don't have a clue and don't know what they are talking about. They haven't taken their turn on watch at 0'dark thirty, never learned how to keep their closet straight, don't know how to make up a bunkbed, much less the finer points of what you do to stay alive as taught by survivors.
Most of what is sold on the market to them is bling to bleed money out of their wallet. They defend it by making up extremist examples only a few percent of actual duty bound shooters ever see. It's a game of justifying 1% solutions and using all of them as a guideline for buying increasingly hyped tactical accessories - and since they own them, they claim more more of "what it takes, so I'm better than you."
Testosterone talking, not real lessons learned and taught. Combat isn't a one on one shooter game, it's the orchestration of multiple assets to control the battlefield. One shooter is just one shooter, the Army has a MG team, multiple shooters, hand grenades, crew served weapons out of sight, and coordination with other units left, right, and in armored vehicles. Much more like calling plays in football, with the necessary foresight to be aware of the next worst case situation that the other guy intends to implement if he sees it.
Most geegaws and gizmos wont' increase hit probability - a gunfighter handle doesn't get you on target any faster than a regular issue charging handle in combat, because you really don't use it at all. What does is practice, practice, practice. The major segment of time for any combat unit prepping for action is in rehearsal - not figuring out which newly marketed item from SHOT they need to order, dang, it won't ship in time for the shoot.
You learn to use what you have with a high degree of skill, not what to order to appear like those dudes in that photo op.
OregonJohnny
Member
Tirod,
I agree with most of your comments regarding the "over-tacticalization" of most civilian AR's. But isn't criticizing a person for putting some neat tactical bolt-ons onto their AR kind of like criticizing a person for putting performance bolt-ons onto their Ford Mustang GT?
Will the average person with a shiny new muscle car ever put food on the table by winning races at the local track because of their $10,000 worth of catalog-bought performance mods? Most likely not. Will the average civilian AR shooter ever save their own life or the lives of those around them because of the $500 worth of tactical gizmos hanging off their AR? Most likely not.
But doesn't each of them have the right to personalize their toy, customize it, make it cool or more useable in their own eyes, without being thought of as a "wannabe" soldier or racer?
I agree with most of your comments regarding the "over-tacticalization" of most civilian AR's. But isn't criticizing a person for putting some neat tactical bolt-ons onto their AR kind of like criticizing a person for putting performance bolt-ons onto their Ford Mustang GT?
Will the average person with a shiny new muscle car ever put food on the table by winning races at the local track because of their $10,000 worth of catalog-bought performance mods? Most likely not. Will the average civilian AR shooter ever save their own life or the lives of those around them because of the $500 worth of tactical gizmos hanging off their AR? Most likely not.
But doesn't each of them have the right to personalize their toy, customize it, make it cool or more useable in their own eyes, without being thought of as a "wannabe" soldier or racer?
yustinus1973
Member
I agree stock ARs are good to go as is, and im not real in to the tactocool stuff my self, even though i have gone down that road before. I like my ARs plain jane, but i under stand why others do not. But i do recommend a BCM Gunfighter charging handel, i use the medium latch, and love it, makes charging and clearing the weapon easer, about the only mod iv done to my plain janes.
Cosmoline
Member
That AR is not a military arm. It's an AR, not an M-16. The government doesn't issue M-16's back to the public via CMP. I wish they did, but they don't. So while you can certainly get a military Garand or Springfield or Mosin-Nagant, you and I cannot go buy a military M-16 for ourselves (though I think there are a tiny handful in the registry). We can at most recreate one to the extent possible. So the concerns about degrading military firearms is not present with the AR's on the civilian market.
Agreed. But having silly fantasies, doing zombie shoots and what not is part of the fun of shooting.
Put it this way, apart from possible home defense my Colt Gov't Carbine is essentially a fun gun. It has no utility as a hunting firearm here without a totally new upper, and would be at best a marginal choice for a trail gun. I have other firearms to do that work. Those firearms are non-nonsense and have few if any additions. My trail rifle has no sling and big simple sights for fast shooting. It also throws a 460 grain lead slug. If I ever need it, my life will be on the line. But this AR is for me to take to the range to work on stances and frankly to just shoot things with for fun. I think that's how a lot of folks view their AR's.
As far as the tactical training such as magpul dynamics, I think it's fine if people view it as a martial arts exercise. But as you say that sort of thing, and the added gewgaws and bottle openers on the platform, don't make you into a warrior.
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Rail Driver
Member
I added a B.A.D. lever, an AFG, and an SSAR-15 to mine, and I love it. The SSAR-15 is the best "range toy" mod I have added, and the b.a.d. lever and afg are both great additions for usability and ergonomics. I replaced the A2 grip on my AR-22 with a 1911 grip adapter and scales.
MBC223
Member
Tough question. My favorites are the Badger Tac latch, Magpul BAD lever, a Redi-mag, and the Larue RISR.
sansone
Member
2 best mods for me were replacing the fixed carry handle upper with a flattop,
second mod being not really a mod but getting a 7.62x39 upper for 4-legged varmints
second mod being not really a mod but getting a 7.62x39 upper for 4-legged varmints
@Tirod: The only way you even make a good point is if someone comes in here and complains about missing their rent payment, or any other real life expense, and then gush and rave about their tacticoolized AR complete with an Eotech, a backup Aimpoint, laser, flashlight, shoulder thing that goes up, etc... otherwise, no civilian gun owner is denigrating the military by giving accessories their time of day, or dollar.
@Cosmoline: You make a fine point. ARs are civilian. We are not pretending to be military, we are simply being free to innovate, and then figure out how to make our rent payment after buying that Aimpoint.
@Cosmoline: You make a fine point. ARs are civilian. We are not pretending to be military, we are simply being free to innovate, and then figure out how to make our rent payment after buying that Aimpoint.
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