Why are M4rgeries so popular?

[waterhouse]

M4 profile does nothing for HD. Who said it did? The "question" asked was about the M4 in total, not just the turned down barrel.

No one said the barrel profile did anything for HD. But people have said that the M4gery:

are a better all-purpose weapon than an M16 style weapon.

most likely scenario where I would use my M4 for self defense would be inside my own home

The original question was why people buy or build M4geries (sp?) My point is that there is nothing wrong with owning a collapsible stocked carbine, but that the M4 barrel profile, which is part of a true M4gery, is useless.

I guess we need to decide if the question is "why are carbines in general so popular?" (in which case I would say they are light and
handy) or "why are true, M4 look-a-likes popular?"

Most people seem to be answering about why they think carbines are popular, with a few exceptions, such as the gentleman who pointed out that his son wanted a similar rifle to one he used in combat.

Would the M4 profile stop you from buying a gun?

Unless it was a smoking deal, yes, but I'm pretty picky about my AR barrels.

 

[22LongRifle]

I would have to say cause its on TV and its cool.

There might be a few who buy one cause they used one in the service or at work. That why I got a Mini 14, we use them at work and I like them. I did not buy an AR even though I used them in the service and as a reservist LEO. Just what I think is a better weapon for HD. And that is a reason why most older gentleman buys a M1 Carbine or M1 Garand.

If you sell them, yeah, you are going to think they are the best thing since sliced bread.

22lr

 

[RNB65]

I just put a Bushy M4 profile upper on my AR and it's awesome. My little rifle now weighs 1.5lbs less than it did with the HBAR upper and I can't tell any difference in accuracy at 100yds. No tele-stock for me -- I prefer the standard fixed stock. I don't really need the little barrel groove for attaching the M203 grenade launcher, but it's nice to know it's there just in case. I LOVE my "new", lightweight, easy handling AR.

 

[SpeedAKL]

I read in G&A that it's on track to pass the 1911 in sales. Anyone hear whether that's true?

Why I bought mine:
1. reasonably-priced entry into centerfire rifle realm
2. highly accurate given its size and light weight
3. light / ergonomic / easy to use
4. boatload of parts and accessories available on the Web and elsewhere
5. large community / lots of info available on them
6. cheap ammo for a centerfire
7. versatile - makes good plinker, fun gun, SHTF gun, small-game hunter, etc

And yes, I would trust mine with HD....only concern would be overpenetration, but at close ranges I have no doubt that stopping power on human-size targets is more than adequate. However, I'd be just as inclined to use the 12-gauge.

 

[000Buck]

but that the M4 barrel profile, which is part of a true M4gery, is useless

And my point is who cares, it doesnt affect anything one way or the other. Many guns come with them because some of the higher end guns we can get are from suppliers to the military and police. Look at the Colt 6920 and all of LMTs guns. Maybe Bushmaster and RRA continue to do it because they want to give the illusion of being a big military and LE contractor. Most people buying M4s for their looks probably dont even know what the groove is for so they dont care.

If it bothers you because it is useless, do you also only buy guns without bayonet lugs because they are equally useless?

 

[Nameless_Hobo]

Because it's fun and they like carbines. I personally like the A1 style rifles, but in the end I don't loose sleep over other's money spent.

 

[Stevie-Ray]

Because they are novel. There are better choices for HD, and pretty much everyone that has one has several accessories hanging off it. I see alot of the 6 position stock, flat top, EOtech, vert grip, light, laser, whistle, and some extra rails to get in the way.

Hey, I got all that plus the BUIS, but minus the whistle on my practical tactical. Awright, where do we get the tactical whistles?

Actually mine was bought for fun first, and HD a distant second but not out of the question. Who was it that said your pistol is for fighting your way back to your rifle? Mine is not set for long distance targets. If I want to reach out and touch someone, I have the SAR-48 for that.

I live a scant few miles from where the worst race riots took place in the sixties. I don't believe it would happen again, but I would be a fool to assume it couldn't. Just one of the possibilities. Gangs are also on everybody's minds nowadays. We just ran one bunch of idiots out of the neighborhood.

 

[bpsig]

m-4's

There a few reasons why popular. The end of the idiotic pc feel good from the clueless In DC.
The aftermath of Katrina people see they will be on there own. An the reason that service personel have bought weapons like they used in service. Familiar and sometimes trust them to be reliable somewhat . Depends on their experiences and mos.
But also they are fun to shoot and sort of lightweight.

 

[000Buck]

Question: Why did the chicken cross the road?










































Answer: To buy an M4.

 

[koja48]

A) I wanted one.
B) Compliments my other AR

IMHO, it supplements my ability to defend myself, if needed. Given a choice, if I were faced with fending-off bad guys, I'd take the M4gery hands-down (even moreso, now that I put an EOtech on it). I love my 1911s, but the carbine provides an edge they can't. Easy to carry, stow & carry in the Jeep, was a fun project, and is a blast to shoot. My ex asked me one time: "Have you bought more guns? Why did buy more guns?" Answer: "Because I can."

 

[Eightball]

I own one (well, a middy, actually) because the light recoil and controllability are nice factors, and it makes a helluva coyote gun--but I still intend to get a 24" Stainless upper later on to make it a real coyote gun.

But, PO'ing anti-gunners is plenty enough of a good reason to own one. That's why I bought my WASR a while back, I just like being able to hit what I am at at any given distance (which is why the WASR is gone and the RRA is here).

As for the CAR length with goofy long barrel and nonexistant grenade launcher--no idea. I prefer to get the "most" out of my 16" barrel, and the middy gas system seems to offer it for my purposes; collapsible stock for storage purposes, none of this "in and out of vehicle" nonsense for me--it takes up less room in my home when not in use. And all that will be "hanging" off of mine will be some flavor of scope, and maybe a bayonet--just in case I need to stab a coyote, or pose for a photo op, or PO another anti. To each their own

 

[Neo-Luddite]

Because of many of the afformentioned reasons, and because the price has come so far down because of all the players in the m-4 style market; Just a sub-piece of the massive AR market that has become commodified in many ways. The quality has (arguably) never been better, and the price never lower.

And China is there, like it or not depending on your politics, flooding the market with (at least) cheap plastic goodies and whatnot that the rifles are made from. That is the only part the I resent, otherwsie it's a great deal for shooters who want that platform.

 

[RubenZ]

I like it because I can have it the back seat of my truck, reach my arm back there and grab it and run after the Wild Pig that just ran in front of my truck. The best part is I can do it all without banging a longer Rifle all over the place inside my truck and cracking windshields.

Then its great for Home Defense as well.

Seriously. Whats not to Like about them?

 

[AZgunstudent]

I bought one to train with before I deployed. Now that I am here, it languishes in the safe back home. I'm selling it because I now have no use for it (I'm getting out after this deployment). I bought and sold a Beretta 92 for the same reason.

They're "okay" guns, but I find them clunky to carry around, don't really enjoy shooting them, have other guns that are perfectly adequate for HD, and think most of the SHTF/TEOWAWKI/Molon Labe scenarios are pretty outlandish.

Fads come and go in the gun world - someone else mentioned 1911s and wondernines - and this too shall pass.

 

[Blackbeard]

But, PO'ing anti-gunners is plenty enough of a good reason to own one.

Why I got mine. They want to ban scary-looking guns, so I get the scariest-looking one I can find. That it shoots well and is fun, well that's just gravy.

 

[RubenZ]

Fads come and go in the gun world - someone else mentioned 1911s and wondernines - and this too shall pass.

Pleeeeease! 1911 Love has been around probably before you were born. The 1911's are not a FAD. They are a Historic Item. Big difference.

 

[taliv]

*cough* i just had my 36th b-day and AR15s were here a long time before i was.

now that i think about it... that's a little unsettling. i usually think of AR15s as "new" because i think of them compared to springfields and garands in High Power. I might have to update my thinking

 

[KC&97TA]

Pleeeeease! 1911 Love has been around probably before you were born. The 1911's are not a FAD. They are a Historic Item. Big difference.

Thank You RubenZ, JMB will secure your place in the heavens

First and Fore Most, the 1911 is not a FAD, that is like saying the M2 BMG .50 cal is a FAD... The 1911 has survived almost 100 years, I'd call that a heck of a pile of parts. Why there has been such a popularity surge on them the last few years... guess you just have to be a "1911 person to understand".

Second; the M4 profile barrel just looks broken up and fancy, so what if you never own a M203... but if you wanted one they are out there, just fill out the paper work and pay your tax to the ATF!

Which makes me think, the AR has been around since the early 50's... which makes the AR/M16 the longest used military issued rifle/carbine in the modern US military. The AK's are cheap, and if you've personally had contact with the ones that have seen battle you'll know that all that "fill it full of sand, mud, so much better than the M16" is just a bunch of bull.

Another point to consider is the AR/M16 Magazines are easier and quicker to load, if you use speed loaders.

What is the alternative to the AR? AK's, Keltec, not too many are into plastic (not bashing Glocks and XD's), There's the Mini 14 & 30, the SKS, G3.

What other common semi auto, high capacity rifles are around?

 

[cameron.personal]

Why are M4rgeries so popular?

They are... (deep breath) accurate, reliable, easy to use, rugged, excellent ergonomics, with the telestock they fit a huge range of shooters, easy to maintain (relatively), soft shooting, great capacity, great supply of accessories and parts, cheap ammo (relatively try feeding my .308 habit for a couple of months), effective (yes the round works to stop people)... Oh I nearly forgot they look tacticool.

Cameron

 

[mordechaianiliewicz]

While I said before I think the military having them is why so many people have got them. That point doesn't negate their utility in home defense.

Would I use one for HD? No, I use a shotgun for that.

But, I'll tell you, if I lived in a rural area, I'd use some kind of semi-auto carbine for HD. And, in a SHTF situation, it would be a fantastic weapon. I don't just mean the Martians are here!!! scenario. Just a temporary natural disaster, and I'd want something to use which would have it's advantages.

For those things, well... the military did choose it's full auto cousin. The real M4.

 

[arthurcw]

In a few years when we can't get them I suggest we use some good old thread necromancy to re-animate this topic to remind us of the good old days when some had the luxury of making fun of those with M4-geries.

I'm sure there are plenty of antis who want to help us keep the peace on this board and will do their dead level best to take this bone of contention away from us.

Why to do some like hi-points? Why do some like race guns? Why do some like Skeet? Why do some like hunting? Why do some like normal cap mags? Why do some like Trucks? Why do some like gas guzzlers? Why do some like guns? Why do some like fast food? Why do some like cigarettes? Why do some like to talk politics? Why do some like to criticize elected officials?

One man's meat is another's poison until it's all gone. Then it's just everyone's memory.

 

[IDriveB5]

I was never a big fan until I shot my buddy's Rock River. I love the two stage trigger and its accurate as all.

 

[waterhouse]

And my point is who cares, it doesnt affect anything one way or the other.

I don't "care" either. All that I am saying is that if people want to argue why an "M4gery" is popular, they need to look at each aspect of an M4gery. To me an M4gery is more than just a carbine. It has specific attributes. Again, most people are saying why they think short, handy AR-15 is popular. Read all of the posts. A few people talk about wanting to have a military looking gun. That is a great answer as to why they have an M4gery. Perfect answer. Home defense, a nice short gun to have in the truck, target shooting, etc . . . none of these answer the question of why an M4gery is popular.

Many guns come with them because some of the higher end guns we can get are from suppliers to the military and police. Look at the Colt 6920 and all of LMTs guns. Maybe Bushmaster and RRA continue to do it because they want to give the illusion of being a big military and LE contractor. Most people buying M4s for their looks probably dont even know what the groove is for so they dont care.

Now we are getting somewhere. Some reasons why M4geries are popular are that they are what companies are making already for gov't contracts( making the barrels cheaper for the civilian market), or some companies want to seem like they are making them for gov't contracts, or people don't know why the barrel looks like it does and don't care, and they are buying it for the looks (probably because they have seen that the military uses it.)

I think about it like this. If I walked into the gun store tomorrow and there was a bolt action rifle with a bunch of metal removed about 6 inches short of the end of the barrel, I'd probably want to know why. People don't seem to ask this about the M4geries.

If it bothers you because it is useless, do you also only buy guns without bayonet lugs because they are equally useless?

While that would be useless to me (and therefore I would not buy it) I have seen many people who actually do have bayonets on their rifles. If it is useful to anyone that's fine by me.

 

[AZgunstudent]

Pleeeeease! 1911 Love has been around probably before you were born. The 1911's are not a FAD. They are a Historic Item. Big difference.

First and Fore Most, the 1911 is not a FAD, that is like saying the M2 BMG .50 cal is a FAD

I'm well aware of the 1911's illustrious history, thanks. I carried one for years before I switched to Glock.

I should have been clearer, however. I was referring to the fact that 1911s are on the cover of every current gun rag that doesn't feature an AR or M4gery. Well, that and the fact that lots of people - many of whom are complete duffers - are paying very steep prices for custom and semi-custom versions of the old horsepistol. It'll pass when the gun rags start pushing the next high-dollar item and the duffers move along like sheep to that.

 

[BigG]

Wht are M4geries so popular?

Cool looks.

If you remember, when the 1994 ban was in place they put "muzzle brakes" (cough, cough) on the end of AR15 barrels? Why? They look cooler than the naked end of a barrel. Why did they all start putting flashhiders on after the ban? They look cooler than a muzzle brake. Simple.