Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting So, you're looking for advice on your first AR...

[Sticks]

I know what you mean, I'll never be an "Off the rack" guy in this respect.

Spare uppers have a tendency to grow lowers without warning. Intentions to unload it are then moot.

If I had the $$$ I'd have picked one of those PSA PRO packages up long ago and have it locked away in my cabin. One less bag 'o gear to haul with me when I go up there.

I do hope you are having both barrels drilled for a pinned gas block.

Well, hopefully come March you will be ready to start sending lead down range. I hope for an invite when you are ready. Be a good test and tune day for the both of us.

 

[RVTRKN]

I don't know much about all the different manufacturers, I just know I waited for the right opportunity to purchase a COLT. My wife actually handed me the CC a couple of times and I turned it down because they weren't COLT's. I know there are better manufactures after reading other sites as well as this thread, but I just wanted an authentic COLT. BTW, it sure did feel good holding my AR with the original grips just like my M16 had in the late 70's.

 

[GHarman]

RVTRKN,
Yes, I like Colts, but my experience was forged on the M-16A-1 starting in ~1968. I have no love for them at all!
They were the first and we were the guinea pigs. Early 5.56 NATO ammo used propellant powders not designed for direct impingement systems and lack of proper cleaning gear!
They were inaccurate, lead hoses! After being issued an M-14, then being forced to use the A-1. What a turnabout in accuracy and reliability.
GregH

 

[Sticks]

WOW - correct statement from a first hand user, and not biased by other gun forums. The mind staggers.

There was a rather heated and lengthy argument on another forum I belong to about this. One member who was a Sgt. during Somalia, hated the rifle merely because he was afraid his troops would loose the cotter pin in the BCG (he phrased it as "falling out" - impossible), along with it was impossible to keep the dust and dirt out - another pointless fear of the rifle failing. Evidently he was trained by someone who pounded into him that the rifle must be kept surgery room sterile at all times or the rifle will not function.

Colt does make an excellent rifle, they are the only ones who have the TDP (Technical Data Package) for the Mil. specs on every single aspect of the current M4. They truly are the only one that can officially say Mil Spec, on their rifles.

Anymore, they are like buying a Harley. It's a label. Fortunately the price point does not follow those lines. Several manufacturers meet or exceed the QC standards for the components as compared to "Mil. Spec." and in many ways are better than the Colt's. Others out there use the term to sell rifles, and the only thing that is Mil Spec about them is the general dimensions.

 

[GHarman]

Sticks.
I want to try the clamp on blocks. Steel or Stainless Steel blocks. Not aluminum because of the high expansion ratio. These barrels are not machined for a pinned block. However, There are drilling fixtures available. If necessary.
GregH

 

[Sticks]

Noted.

I thought I was the only one around here that got up this early (in CO).

 

[GHarman]

I am up at all hours, most nights. It is rarely that I sleep through, although my normal schedule is 2200-0500 hrs. (Last evening I hit the rack at 2345hrs!)
Just waiting to get sleepy again.
So here we are!
GregH

 

[Sticks]

I wake up at 0300ish weather I want to or not, regardless of when I hit the rack. 2 years of conditioning in '05 working full time and 6 hours of tech school at night. Medicated, 5 hours of sleep is the best I can do, then it's a series of 15-45 minute naps after. Sucks getting old.

 

[GHarman]

Just "older". I aint old, till somebody shovels dirt in my face:-laf
Weekends are a different schedule unless something has been planned, weather permitting.
Really windy and cold, up here, so will stay home and work on cabinet face frames, today.
Gonna crawl back in the rack for a couple of hours. Not in any hurry
Have a Good Day, Sticks!
GregH

 

[RVTRKN]

RVTRKN,
Yes, I like Colts, but my experience was forged on the M-16A-1 starting in ~1968. I have no love for them at all!
They were the first and we were the guinea pigs. Early 5.56 NATO ammo used propellant powders not designed for direct impingement systems and lack of proper cleaning gear!
They were inaccurate, lead hoses! After being issued an M-14, then being forced to use the A-1. What a turnabout in accuracy and reliability.
GregH

Yes, Colt went through growing pains, fortunately for me I entered service after the Vietnam war. (1976) But the best form of a compliment is to copy something, and there's no denying it has been copied. When I got serious about getting a AR15, I didn't want something I wasn't familiar with, and I wanted a genuine Colt. I passed on several different makes, but the wait was worth it. Your M-16A-1 was a good concept as time has proved, but there is a reason for the addition of the palm operated eject button. I have never had to use it in all of the thousands of rounds I have fired through my M16 and AR15 perhaps it is the improvement of gun powder and slight difference in manufacturing that very first M-16A-1 had.

BTW, thank you for your service, it took many years for Vietnam Vets to get the respect they deserved, but I'm not one of those that had to be convinced latter in life. I have always had respect for Vietnam Vets.

BTW, go Chargers :-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[GHarman]

RVTRKN,
No thanks necessary, BUT Appreciated. Thank you for Your Service, also!
The M-16 has certainly evolved(the good kind) into a fine battle platform.
As well as sporting applications. Many matches were, and are still won using the AR platform rifle.
I've mostly set my sights on Bolt actions and classic single shot rifles for the last decades since my RSVN adventure.
The last couple of years has seen a renewed interest in this "Leggo" rifle platform.
We will see how it comes together. Oo. Just not satisfied with minute of barn door:-laf!
Even the old WW-2 Garand would shoot better than the Mil-Spec accuracy window of the modern M-16/AR-15!

GregH

 

[BIGNASTY]

The best thing that a guy in Vietnam could have done to protect himself was to THROW the M16 to the other side. WAPOS that was!!!


This ? had absolutely NOTHING TO FEAR!!! it was that inaccurate :-laf

 

[GHarman]

Absolutely, BIG!
It was a "lead hose". "Spray and Pray"!:-laf
GregH

 

[BIGNASTY]

Absolutely, BIG!
It was a "lead hose". "Spray and Pray"!:-laf
GregH

Our FAC base was a re-supply point for all kinds of freaky Special OPs people, I really didn't like those folks they just weren't right compared to us SO CALLED normal guys. But they sure had some fun toy's to play with Oo. Had access to everything but was told to leave the LAW's rockets alone, they cost to much to be playing with :{ Dont know of to many that thought very much of the M16

 

[GHarman]

As a radio/communications MOS, we needed to maintain Comm at all costs!
The M-14 was HEAVY with your normal issue of 5 magazines. I usually had 10 or more! Then our personal gear and radio equipment. But that Rifle was ALWAYS in my physical possession.
When we were forced to turn in the M-14's and get the M-16, it was done as a "favor" because these new rifles were really light weight, compared to the M-14.
They were also very handy for a shoulder carry "fast draw" to full ready when occupied with other tasks.

During my last tour I went through 4 different M-16's. One was destroyed by a mortar round! Dang that was close! :--)

The other 3 were JUNK! I remember one time, stopping by the Battalion Armory and requesting a new rifle. The first thing the Armory OIC did was have the NCO strip my rifle to see if there as ANY RUST on it! The H-E-X-X with the rifle not being adequate for the job!!
Anyway, I spent almost as much time acquiring non-TO weapons and Ammo to offset the inadequacies of the M-16 that my "Communications" MOS was just my "second job"!
I picked up some junk and some good stuff. From a Canadian made 9mm Browning High Power hand gun and 1000 rounds of German WW-2 issue 9mm ammo. Some of which did not fire! (Not good) (The Top Sgt. threatened to confiscate it, so I traded it to someone else) to an AK-47 and a 1918 Browning Automatic Rifle (My favorite for defensive use).
In most cases, my crew and I were set up in an area with huge fields of fire. Completely contrary to the capabilities of the M-16, even if it was a quality weapon. Only rarely did we pack radios. But we always had a huge amount of gear to handle! Sometimes in boxes, sometimes via a 3/4 ton truck. Back pack frames and crates.

For a fixed position the .30 caliber 1918 Browning Automatic Rifle , My favorite PDW for the situation! At 21# loaded, it was a hand full of potent retaliation at medium ranges. More accurate than the M-16 and better than the M-14 in Full auto mode. It fired from the open bolt position (like a light MG) but with a slow cyclic rate. One could fire carefully aimed single shots with practice. My second favorite was the M-79! A real shoulder fired cannon ! Heres a picture of that one, also!
GregH

 

[BIGNASTY]

Danm G you looked tuff in them pic's I don't think im going to call you OLD MAN any longer :-laf

A little behind with the CLIP feed weapon Pard, what was that 10 rounds and reload ?

M60!! for when you absolutely, positively had to put an end to the party goers coming over the wire.

and for the ones that just wouldn't behave themselves and got TO CLOSE, a face full of 00

21 pounds, almost as heavy as the 60 at 23 pounds but it took and AG to feed the heavy appetite of this girl, four rounds of Ball and one Tracer, at night it was like you had a whip from the end of the tube to about 600 yards, thank goodness for a quick change barrel system and ASBESTOS GLOVES for the AG :-laf the OTHER GUY was just a tad busy!!!


AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH one HELL of a party wasn't it Pard?

wished I hadn't been invited




PS I like the round in your left hand for the 79,,, Nice touch :-laf

 

[GHarman]

AHH, But we were invited! Brother BIG!
We did our job! By GODS Grace, we survived!

That was a LONG time ago, Pard! "Not so lean and not so mean, BUT Still a Marine"

I did not have access to an M-60 or I would have scarfed it up! I had to scrounge .30 caliber Ammo out of MG belts and strip the rounds out of the links to fill the BAR magazines. (The .30 Air cooled MG's were trashed)You fill each magazine with 20 rounds and a whole stack of them and your fingers are raw! Wished I could have kept that hunk of iron for the rest of my tour! But I had to let it go when I left the ROK Marines, with whom I helped provide communications. I reckon our positions were not as high a value as yours was. Mostly, we received sniper fire, Mortar and rocket attacks, night time H&I probes.
GregH

 

[BIGNASTY]

AHH, But we were invited! Brother BIG!
We did our job! By GODS Grace, we survived!

That was a LONG time ago, Pard! "Not so lean and not so mean, BUT Still a Marine"

I reckon our positions were not as high a value as yours was. Mostly, we received sniper fire, Mortar and rocket attacks, night time H&I probes.
GregH

Wasn't of any value Pard I was Enlisted, just had to hold um off long enough to get the sandy's and bird dogs airborne, after that your on your own!!! Never have been one to leave a party early

 

[RVTRKN]

I loved the M60, I had a chance to shot a couple of hundred rounds through one, the only problem was to change out the barrel when it got hot, I also loved to work on the M60 Tanks. I used to rebuild the Alison CD850 automatic transmission for them, not until the M1 Abrams came along, that was one hell of a tank.

 

[BIGNASTY]

Our M60's were a team affair, one to do the shooting one to change barrels and reload, while the other guy was heating things up on the other gun, then change positions in the hole and start all over. Consisted of 2 M60's with 2 barrels each and at LEAST 6K per gun of ammo. If two guys couldn't change the minds of the party goers with that then they needed to be better party host's. Changed a bunch of Political outlooks with that combo