Why do you care what is on another persons rifle?

[SHvar]

I have added a few things to my ARs, but I consider the feel, weight, how it moves, if the accessory interferes with stuff around me, and if the accessory can make the rifle easier to use, or better for home defense, target shooting, etc.
If Im going to the range Im gonna keep the stuff on the rifle, why, simple, if you take it off while you train, your gonna make mistakes when you need it the most, who can you blame then?
You train like you fight, if something makes your job easier, or more efficient, then by all means use it.
By the way, I was an active duty Army light Infantryman who served in combat for our wonderful nation, every rifle, SMG, general purpose machinegun, light machinegun, and shotgun I have ever seen used by our country in war has a sling on it. Anyone who says that a sling gets you killed or that you train or fight without them is full of it. The only place I ever heard someone in the army (concerning infanty) say not to use a sling is in basic training, the real army starts after you leave Sand Hill. Slings have a purpose, and a real infantryman knows when to use one, and when not to, also knows the value of a sling.
Nightvision, electric scopes, lasers, flashlights, slings, etc all serve a purpose in fighting and training, and can make your home defense weapon better, only if you train like you are going to fight.
Theres a line between added improvements, and excessive stuff.

 

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

Old School

I'll admit it; I'm kind of old school. I like bolt-actions and hunting automatics; I like good optics on my rifles, but I have a couple that will be iron-sighters for life. I'm 42 as of this writing. I tend to hunt deer, groundhogs, coyotes, and lots of paper these days.

When I was in my twenties, I bought, sold, and traded a whole host of assault rifles and other "black weapons." They were fun. I still own a "plain" AK-47 and an SKS, because they're still fun.

I won't pretend to understand the attraction Picatinny rails, or the plethora of accessories that mount to those rails hold for some people. It's just something that holds little attraction for me - I would say no attraction, but I suspect there are guns underneath all that stuff

That said, you're a shooter. That means you're one of my kind. There aren't enough of us around for us to bicker amongst ourselves. I'm thrilled you enjoy the same hobby I do. I'm damn proud they sell rails, lasers, lights, night sights, bayonets, disco-balls, etc. I love the fact that I saw a Picatinny-mounted bayonet for pistols somewhere, even though I doubt I'll ever buy one. It's an option, and options are good. Hell I may wake up tomorrow morning and need to make a pirate-style boarding of an old ironsides ship. That pistol bayonet might be handy.

In short, if I snicker at somebody's duded-up assault rifle, it's only because I'm officially old enough to not "get it" these days, and I'm enjoying that. I'm sure a lot of people, my buddies included, snicker at my home-made bullpup 10-22. It's a homely little beast, but it's easy to carry, insanely comfortable to shoot, and hell-columbia on squirrels and rabbits. Most importantly, I had a lot of fun making the thing.

And yes, it meets the legal requirements for rifle length...

Arthur
http://improvingmyselfconfessional.blogspot.com/

 

[SHvar]

Your not that old, or too old to enjoy or be attracted to black rifles etc. Right now your interests or what your looking to add to your collection is just different than others may be. Heck I waited to start getting my own ARs. I already have enough other rifles (bolt action, long range, wood stock, handguns, .22, etc).
I think most 20 somethings cant afford to realistically go buying the latest greatest black rifles, unless they are using credit cards.

 

[Art Eatman]

Hey, I'm sure long gone from the "Spring Chicken" age group. I like my AR.

I guess the aspect of many of the discussions about ARs that bugs me has to do with the amount of emotion, more than the accoutrements hung onto them. How do people get all emotionally attached to a danged old gun? The world is full of them!

Guns and doodads thereon aren't gonna enhance manly prowess in horizontal recreation. They don't increase IQ or make a guy look like a Brad Pitt equivalent.

It doesn't matter what you've done to any gun: Somebody else beat you to it. Save your emotional stuff for Sweet Thang.

 

[WNTFW]

Art, I agree, but sometimes my wife is like "leave me alone, why don't you go fool with your guns instead"!

 

[CZguy]

Art, I agree, but sometimes my wife is like "leave me alone, why don't you go fool with your guns instead"!

I think that I'm starting to understand where the frustration about the way someone else sets up their rifle comes from.


Sorry it was just to good to pass up.

 

[ColeK]

I'm old and Ol' School. Tacticool is of no interest to me.
Combat rifle calibers need to start with a 3 and combat pistol calibers need to start with a 4.
Uncle Sam at one time issued me a M14, then a M16. I preferred the M14.
At one time or another he also issued me various pistols chambered for .38's, .45's and 9mils. I preferred the .45's.

 

[Art Eatman]

My first-ever centerfire was a 1917 Enfield. I've had a few '03s. Messed with a Garand even before toting one in Basic. Have one, now. I don't really think of an AR as "tactical" so much as, "plenty good for social work."

I've shot bunches and bunches of different kinds of handguns, but my hand and Ol' Slabsides seem to fit well together. Nothing wrong with a Colt Woodsman or a Colt SAA, though...

 

[Geno]

It doesn't much matter to me what people do with their firearms. I just like to see the photos, hear the hunting stories and have the chance to live vicariously through those here who have real lives, unlike my own Walter Mitty-like existence.

Geno

 

[CZguy]

I just like to see the photos, hear the hunting stories and have the chance to live vicariously through those here who have real lives, unlike my own Walter Mitty-like existence.

Hey..........that hits pretty close to home for some of us.

I mean, after all this is the internet.

 

[android]

Why do some of you care so much what another person does with "their" rifle?

1) To see if it's something cool I don't already have.
2) To figure out what it is and where they got it.
3) To go and get one to put on my rifle.

 

[ROGER4314]

I've seen this stuff a number of times:

SCUBA. When I learned, ALL of the gear was black. Then came the colors and you weren't cool unless everything matched.

Bicycles. I never even thought about matching shirts and shorts! Then came the colored gear and you had to be cool and IN. OH....don't forget the bicycle "helmets". That had to match, too! I've never worn a bicycle helmet and was refused participation in a group ride because of it. What the Hell!

Motorcycles. Rode for over 40 years. The old timers said "I don''t care what you ride.....just so you ride." Then came the newbees. "Gotta ride Milwaukee Iron or you're dirt" and "rice ain't nice." OH....your zoot suit has to match, too! I rode a Honda Gold Wing around the Western US twice. I got criticized because I didn't put a lot of lights and extra crap on the bike. Geeze............it was a motorcycle!

Now the guns.........Never have I seen such a collection of color coordinated stuff to go on a firearm. The pistols have to be polished, grips coordinated, rifle stocks matched and rings coordinated to the scope and barrel color. Ruger 10-22's look like a circus clowns! If that's what you like then get after it! As for me..................

It's all about selling gear. If folks can razz you into thinking you're not OK because you don't pack the same gear, then you go out and buy the gear. It's all a bunch of crap!


Flash

 

[husker]

a hours reading to say this!
i dont
but good read

 

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

SHvar said

"I think most 20 somethings cant afford to realistically go buying the latest greatest black rifles, unless they are using credit cards."

That's probably true these days, but 15-20 years ago, I was single, no mortgage, few responsibilities, no family to support, and living at the Hotel Cheapo. I made good money working construction and seemed to have plenty of cash for the things I wanted to buy/do.

Now I'm happily married, getting ready to build a new house, teaching high school, and saddled with all the responsibilities that go along with being a grown-up. It seems harder to find the loose "play" money to buy guns and such now than it did then. I'm not sure if guns got that much more expensive, or my obligations got that much more demanding- maybe both.

I don't miss the dating part of being single, but sometimes I get a little nostalgic for some of the freedom from responsibility that went with those days - not that I'll ever admit that to Mrs. Rifleman.

 

[cjl8651]

I had a guy at the range ask me once why I had a sun shade on my scope and I replied "Because I want to".

Best four words ever. Not a rifle, but a similar situation. When I got my Walther P99, lots of people asked me why I didn't get the Glock, USP, or SIG. Just used those four words, "because I want to."

 

[doubleh]

Roger4314's post reminded me of a post I made on another forum about people arguing about which gun is best, etc. I compared shooting different guns and calibers to the argument about riding a Harley or a Japanese bike and pointed out that it isn't what you ride, or shoot, it's the fact that you do. A guy immediately jumped on me about how sorry Harleys were and still are. I didn't mention one word about quality of guns or motorcycles. SOME people just want to argue and impress their ideas on everyone else.

As to the original post, I don't care what you shoot or what accessories you stick on it or what you paid for them. If it works for you that's what counts. If asked my opinion I will give it. If not I'll keep my mouth shut. All I ask is that you shoot safely, especially when I am present.

 

[SHvar]

Ya, both, more demanding, and more expensive.
cj8651, a good friend of mine was convinced by an exgirlfriend to buy a sig, he doesnt mind the thing, but he regrets not getting the P99, or a glock.
I said the same thing when I bought my gas piston rifle (when so many said why), because I wanted to, and you know what, Im glad I did.