Your ideal AR15 of the future

[Jeff H]

^^This^^

 

[grampajack]

I like the AR the way it is, extremely modular, where you can pull together just about anything you want. And you can make easy upgrades as technology moves forward.

So of course I'm not a fan of monolithic uppers, you're locked into something that will be yesterday's news in the future.

I'd say instead of a whiz bang "ideal" AR that no doubt is expensive and will fall short of ideal in all situations... build two or three specialized ARs that cover just about everything.

I think we can all agree with that, at least the first part, to an extent. But what role do you think the AR is best suited for? Assault rifle, SBR, sniper rifle, DMR, SPR, RECCE, super lightweight, varmint. etc.

And in that role for which it is best suited, what would you like to see?

 

[grampajack]

Someone mentioned milling away non essential areas of gas blocks, and someone else mentioned that they wanted pinned gas blocks. These are two thing I've wanted for a while now, as well as adjustability.

My ideal gas block would be field adjustable with three settings (suppressed, normal, and adverse conditions). I would probably design it to be adjusted with a bullet tip through a hole in the handguard, as I want the handguard to extend past it, but I don't want to interrupt the top rail.

The gas plugs would also be sold separately, and the gas holes would simply be drilled as pilot holes. That way the end user would open them up as needed for the ammo/suppressors he used. And he could have different gas plugs for each type of ammo. So he could train with cheap range ammo, and then go back to the real deal by simply swapping out the gas plugs. It would actually be pretty easy. You would just take a reamer to the range with you and slowly widen the gas ports until you were happy with gas volume.

I would also attach it to the barrel with one 2/0 taper pin. This would leave the gas journal as short as possible, so as not to interrupt the taper anymore than is absolutely necessary. That should improve the harmonics, at least in theory, as well as cut down on some weight.

I'm very confident that one taper pin is enough. My SKSs have one tiny pin holding the gas block on, and I've never heard of that being a problem.

 

[Kendal Black]

Best role? Lighter and handier than an M1 Carbine and more effective at more range. We have that knocked: Better accuracy, better cartridge even if you stay with the 5.56.

I think the AR-15 is best bred as a pony, not a beer horse.

 

[jamesjames]

I really enjoy the AR concept. I question the forward assist. I would eliminate it and save some weight and manufacturing cost. In fact, the original SP1 configuration, updated with a free-float barrel and rail-equipped fore-end, no-batt optic, and mag pull stock with better ergos for cheek weld would fill my bill. Carbon lower to get the unloaded platform under 4.25 lbs. Keep 5.56 caliber.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

My AR's are just fine the way Colt produced them----except for an Aimpoint slapped on the top.

 

[Hondo 60]

Been looking at the bump fire/slide fire stocks.
I have a nostalgic AR15A1 (like I carried when I was in the Army).

But now am seriously thinking of an M4 & putting a bump fire stock on it.
I miss the full auto just to obliterate targets.

I feel it's my duty to rid this country of those dastardly evil paper targets!
I'd also like to help control the population of plastic jugs - 1/2 & whole gallon milk jugs, all manner of soda bottles, empty gun powder bottles, etc, etc.
They're so over populating the planet that if we don't control them, they'll eventually control us!

 

[Zerodefect]

Full ambi billet lowers like KAC, for more reasonable prices.

Other than that, I'm happy with custom building AR's. Only other dream would be 5.56 priced .300blk ammo.

 

[Zerodefect]

Been looking at the bump fire/slide fire stocks.
I have a nostalgic AR15A1 (like I carried when I was in the Army).

But now am seriously thinking of an M4 & putting a bump fire stock on it.
I miss the full auto just to obliterate targets.

I feel it's my duty to rid this country of those dastardly evil paper targets!
I'd also like to help control the population of plastic jugs - 1/2 & whole gallon milk jugs, all manner of soda bottles, empty gun powder bottles, etc, etc.
They're so over populating the planet that if we don't control them, they'll eventually control us!

Franklin armory offers a lower with an auto response/binary trigger that may interest you more than a silly bump fire stock.

 

[grampajack]

Full ambi billet lowers like KAC, for more reasonable prices.

Other than that, I'm happy with custom building AR's. Only other dream would be 5.56 priced .300blk ammo.

That's one of the finest off the shelf ARs produced, if not the finest. Put it in a monolithic upper with a stainless barrel, and it's pretty much 90% of the way to my dream AR.

The LMT enhanced BCG is almost as good, though, and it works with a standard barrel extension.

 

[WestKentucky]

I'm pretty sure those igits on the Discovery channel already did that.:banghead:

Yeah, but I would post pictures and let other people play too.

 

[Zerodefect]

There is one other thing.

A tiny steel cam latch between the upper and lower that locks them together. No more rattle. Useless, but a solid feeling AR is pretty cool.

 

[barnbwt]

I really enjoy the AR concept. I question the forward assist. I would eliminate it and save some weight and manufacturing cost. In fact, the original SP1 configuration, updated with a free-float barrel and rail-equipped fore-end, no-batt optic, and mag pull stock with better ergos for cheek weld would fill my bill.

No kidding, we've long since addressed the ammo issues that led to the need for a forward assist. Free float barrels are clearly here to stay, unless we finally perfect tensioned barrels & have skinny fiber-wrapped barrels that weigh nothing & also shoot accurately until destroyed.

I'd actually take it further and go back to the overhead cocking handle of the first AR10s, only in a lower-profile format more accessible from the side (a forward-mounted T-handle, basically). Practically all optics are raised up to some degree already, so it's not like the bore height difference is crippling, and alleviates the primary ergo flaw with the AR (which is why the T handle was not the first design choice to start with)

Even further than that, it has become clear that the AR15 is geometrically constrained to the point of limiting its adaptability in a hot area of development. I think developing an AR15 carrier & upper that use an AR10 bolt head & barrel extension, and a lower with either a longer or modular/replaceable magwell is almost a must at this point, for the platform to get much further evolution.

TCB

 

[grampajack]

I could go either way on the forward assist. The AR isn't the only rifle to have one. The G36 for example has a forward assist feature built into it. While it's something you're almost never likely to use, it's not like it's in the way or overly heavy. The presence or lack thereof wouldn't influence my decision to buy or not buy any given AR. I can live with it, and I could just as well live without it.

 

[BSA1]

The Forward Assist is needed on AR & M4's used by the military. It is used with worn guns used by non-combat support troops and older ammo when training.

For civilians it is a different story. For us it is far easier just to eject the offending round and chamber another round rather than risk creating the mother of all jams.

 

[grampajack]

The Forward Assist is needed on AR & M4's used by the military. It is used with worn guns used by non-combat support troops and older ammo when training.

For civilians it is a different story. For us it is far easier just to eject the offending round and chamber another round rather than risk creating the mother of all jams.

I don't know what the FA has to do with worn guns. It's there for when the rifle gets so dirty the bolt gets gummed up and can't make it all the way. This will happen to any gun, but with most you have a charging handle that you can push on, or a slide in the case of a pistol.

Also, if your bolt doesn't go into battery, which is what the FA is for, and you try to simply cycle another round, you will create double feed every time. The extractor doesn't engage the rim until the bolt is fully into battery. I hope that's clear as mud.

ETA: Another way to think about it, if you hear a click and no bang, then the bolt has gone into battery. Could be a dud, light primer strike, hang fire, or broken or dirty firing pin. If at the range, you wait the 30 seconds to rule out a hang fire. If in a gunfight you just power stroke it and pray it doesn't blow up in your face.

If you pull the trigger and it's unresponsive, and no click, and you're not dry, then you either have a double feed or a failure to go into battery, or possibly, but far less likely, a stuck case. If it's a simple failure to go into battery, then a tap on the FA will send it home. If it's a double feed, then you have to lock back the bolt and eject the magazine.

Again, hope that's clear as mud. To simulate it, load 30 rounds at the range, then slowly let the bolt ride forward to chamber the first round. More than likely it's going to get hung up on the feed ramps and create a simple failure to go into battery, like you would get from a dirty BCG. Just tap the FA and it will send it on home.

 

[wow6599]

I hope I'm able to someday (elections and all) get one with two features - piston-driven and chambered in 6.8 SPC II

 

[CapnMac]

Hmm, caliber--we know we can't get a 6.5x55, so, why not a 6mm? We could call that a .240 for the bolt-action types. Ought to be able to get 65+75gr projectiles up to 2800fps and not have a major weight change or volume change.

That's a bit of pipe dream--trying to keep the benefits of the .223 while in a 50-state hunting-legal round without some of the complications of going to 6.8.

Now, to the arm, my ideal would have guide rails and springs for the BCG, which would eliminate the buffer tube. It would also allow for a bolt handle.
Free-float fore end with a QD barrel makes a lot of sense, too. While I think a short recoil (a la M1 Carbine) would be logical, the DI system works well enough, if improvable with a gas adjustment.

So, yes, my ideal would look substantially like an AR 18, just with the "lego" aspects of the AR 15.

 

[Casefull]

A rugged 6 lb ar, in 308, with built in suppressor. Barrel not over 16 inches with suppressor. I could do whatever needed doing with that.

 

[barnbwt]

Also, if your bolt doesn't go into battery, which is what the FA is for, and you try to simply cycle another round, you will create double feed every time. The extractor doesn't engage the rim until the bolt is fully into battery. I hope that's clear as mud.

So what you're saying is the dream gun needs controlled round feeding? (interesting question, seeing as practically no autoloader rifles use the feature, despite its real advantages)

TCB

 

[Nature Boy]

My ideal AR of the future would be to still be able to buy the existing ARs in the future

 

[minutemen1776]

I think I already have my ideal AR15: LMT lower, BCM midlength 16" upper and Gunfighter CH, KMR 13" handguard, Aimpoint H-2 Micro, Troy folding BUIS, and Magpul grip. Honestly, I've thought about things that might make it better. All I can come up with is maybe a Keymod forward grip? I love shooting this rifle. I've built it up over time buying exactly what I want and selling/replacing anything that doesn't suit me perfectly.

 

[grampajack]

A rugged 6 lb ar, in 308, with built in suppressor. Barrel not over 16 inches with suppressor. I could do whatever needed doing with that.

I think you could accomplish some of that with parts already available, though 6 lbs might be a bit optimistic. A 12'' barrel with an over the barrel suppressor, if you could find one that fit, would probably get you somewhere around 16'' total. The ones I know of tend to need four inches or so behind the threads, so it might work.

Using carbon fiber/titanium parts with a pencil barrel might get you down to like 6.5-7 lbs, but that wouldn't include the suppressor. You might have to consider switching to 300 BLK to get down to 6.

It might be possible if you were prepared to spend the money.

ETA: I think this is the lightest 308 AR on the market. 7.2 lbs. https://christensenarms.com/firearms/msr/ca-10-dmrYou could drop some weight going to a lighter barrel, especially if it were 12''. I think that would save about 8 ounces, so you might get it down to 6.5 lbs.

The problem with 308s is that you don't have nearly the selection of lightweight parts. If you were to drop down to 300 BLK, then you could use Battle Arms parts. Doing that, you might even get below 6 lbs including the suppressor. Then you'd have the option of going subsonic.

 

[blarby]

^^This^^

dOESNT WORK WHEN YOURE IN THAT POSITION :d

I just want a SSGP AR design with a 4" BBL , a Mossberg 500 butstock, in 458 Socom.

Id take that.

 

[Inebriated]

The biggest improvement to the AR will be OTC suppressors and SBR's.