AR ANONYMOUS - Share your first experience

T

TxFlyFish

New member
For the longest time I've told myself that an AR would be the dead last firearm that I would purchase. It will be the firearm to complete my collection, because at that point I would not have any more platforms to be interested in. Why? Because everyone has an AR and everyone speaks AR and breathes Magpul. It's always some talk about some upper matched some lower, ambi this and that, and what generation of magazine and stocks and sling attachments and then more talk about uppers. And to top it all off everyone wears those funny checkered scarfs and checks their right and left after they shoot even though there's no one around them!! SO :p help me get past this stereotype...I want to get into ARs I want to drink beer like everyone else does.

How did you first get into the AR platform? How did you overcome your "AR barriers"?
 
Well I had two:

First was a Remington R15CS in 223. I scoped it, shot it, with the right ammo I could get MOA at 100yrds. Trigger was awful, had problems with the scope mounts moving a couple of times (Warne Mounts) otherwise, functioned fine. Wasn't the kind of gun I could burn up ammo with like a 10/22 etc. Sold it for Savage bolt gun that was easier to set up, clean, and not magazine dependant.

Second was a CMMG M4gery. Gun functioned fine, grouped about 3-4" at 100yards with iron sights and XM193 ammo. Was a complete hassle to set up( flip up sights from Troy) and a removable red dot sight that was suppose to keep POA upon return to the gun. Looking back the gun was ok, it was the accessories that ran me nuts. Detachable this, collapsible that whew what a maze. The Troy sights when flipped from small aperture to large aperture would change left to right about 2-2-1/2" at 100yrds. The aperture moved on a threaded bolt, when it was moved from large to small POA would change, strike one. The repeatable zero on the red dot well "most of the time" was true not every time, strike two. The gun seems to need spare parts, extra bolt, carrier, springs, hammers, etc. By the time you carried that with the mandatory extra 35 Magpul magazines and bazillion 223 rounds, that was a lot of stuff. It was traded for a Marlin 336BL and let me tell you It was the best thing I ever did. Lever guns are way cool in my book, granted a little slower than an AR15 but to me they are more useful & chambered in large calibers that do not call for a "hose the area down" effect.

YMMV. I know the feeling, I tried to be with the "club" a couple of times but for me I was just not happy with AR15's. I carry a M16A1 at work and get along fine with it, but it wasn't my money invested in it. It is also about as plain as you can make a rifle, no collapsible or removable stuff.

I try to direct people to talk to someone that likes them and see if the reasons they like AR15's are the same reasons you would. If all else fails they usually trade or sell well to fund something else.
 
Just embrace the evil dark side with the "Black Rifle" crowd.:D

They really are a lot of fun, shooting, building, customizing. They are like adult erector sets that go bang.

I would say buy a complete rifle first, less to worry about, more to enjoy. Lets you learn the platform easily, and if you buy a quality one, you can start building it up and modifying it to your needs or wants.

From there the real fun is doing complete builds. A good set of brass punches, and a few cheap specialized tools and you can build an AR in about an hour, and that's taking your time and checking it twice.;) Then again I work with them and take them apart on a daily basis.

As for the scarf... I don't usually wear mine. As for looking side to side... I know people who practice it... I have been forced to practice it on a range a time or too. I know the purpose and the reason for it, I understand it, but I still don't normally practice it myself. There actually is theory behind it that is logical though, so it doesn't bother me when I see people do it.

I will say I stand up proudly as a huge Magpul fan. I use their products, enjoy their products, and very often recommend their products when building or modifying AR's for my customers. They are awesome to deal with too. Hands down the best mags for an AR are Pmags.

I know people will rag on me as a fanboy, but my current AR build I use the most looks like a Magpul product catalog.:D

The spec's on my current AR I use for defensive purposes, along with carbine courses, and range days at work:

-14.5'' BCM Mid Length Upper (I didn't build it, got a good deal on it)
-BCM Bolt Carrier Group.
-CMT lower and lower parts kit
-Troy Industries Drop In quad rail
-Falcon Ergo Grip in tan (this is my one non Magpul item, The ergo grip is slim, and is supper tacy rubber which is great for sweaty palms when running around)
-Magpul CTR stock in tan (awesome stock, sleek and rock solid)
-Magpul AFG II in tan (really is comfortable to me, but its not loved by everyone)
-Magpul XTM black/tan rail covers on side rails.
-Magpul rubber ladder style rail cover in tan on top rail
-Magpul MBUS rear flip up sight in tan
-Magpul BAD lever
-Magpul enhanced trigger guard.
-Magpul ASAP sling attachment plate
-Magpul Multi Mission Sling in tan
-Magpul Pmag x 10 in tan
-EOtech to top it off.

Had a tan Surefire Scout combat light mounted to it, but recently sold it to a buddy.

It is my current favorite black rifle.:D You can tell I really drink Magpul koolaid.
 
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AR's are cool. Just don't geek out over them.

I'm sure people make their Marlin 22's tacticool too.

Generally, I would argue, less is more.
 
Except for extended pistol grips, 2-stage triggers, and a few sight/gasblock changes- mine are all just the way I bought em. Bone stock, plain jane. They are not big expensive fancy names, they just go bang on a regular basis. They've all ridden around in trucks and kilt various types of varmints, and none of them have worn out. None of them have a magpull anything on them, they like old surplus store/gunshow mil-surp 20rnd mags, only one of them has one of those collapsable stocks on it None of them have ever seen a co-witnessed anything, and the closest thing to buis they've seen are the removable carry handles I've managed to have lost yet.

That said- find one you like, take it home, introduce yourselves to each other, go shoot it, and have fun. T'heck with all the weekend super tactical mall ninja covert counter counter counter sniper operators! Just go shoot!
 
I had a chance to shoot a few, and decided I liked them. I enjoyed the A2 and A4 rifles more than the stubby ones, so I had Wild West Guns build me an A4gery out of a Colt 6920 carbine, a 20" .gov-profile 1:7" Sabre Defense chrome-lined barrel, and a small pile of Colt parts.

It has worked out extremely well:
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=462100

It has spoiled me terribly; to the point where I hardly shoot my AUG clone or kalashnikovs anymore.
 
I joined the Army and they issued me one. Well, first an M16a2 and then very shortly an a4, and now I've got an M4.. which is soo much easier to like.

But before I joined, I really thought I would like the weapon (m16/m4) and not like the 5.56. It ended up being the opposite.. I love .223 and have no desire to own an AR.

Very practical, very reliable, very customizable.. I know. But if you can't make the jump, come on over here and we'll drink Dr. Pepper or a Dewski together. (Cause alcohol and guns don't mix ;) )
 
First Experience with the AR????

That kind of goes back a ways. When I was in the 82nd we still had M14s. When I got my orders for Vietnam in early '67 we were taken to the range to familiarize and qualify with the M16..............yeah right, we let them rip, shot them as fast as we could.......just a bunch of dumb kids with our first taste of "rock and roll".

Got to Vietnam, and again to the range, only this time, I paid attention and qualified with my M16a1. Served me well as an infantryman with the 101st Abn Div, NEVER LET ME DOWN.

Joined the AK NG in '73, retired in '92. Issued a M16a1, shot it a lot. Late in the '70s I bought a Colt SP1 and used that so I wouldn't have to fuss with the idiot running the arms room.

Shot the crap out of it, blanks while playing and qualification and competition. I never fired anything but expert with the M16. In competition we fired what was called a Rifle Combat Course, 100, 200, 300 and 400 yards, Worked well there too. Also used the sub cal device firing 22 rim fires in the CNGB Postal match, Won the state match (team) and we were sent to Nashville to compete with other states shooting the Sub cal device.

Odd, flew us from Nome Alaska to Nashville to fire about 30 minutes.

When the 'A2s came out my TO&E issue weapon was a pistol so I never used them much in the guard. Most of my experience was the 'a1s

I was one of the last hold outs refusing to give up my M1A for the AR in High Power, but I did, got a White Oak upper and discovered its the way to go for High Power Service Rifle.

Still have my WOA and my SP1.

Never done much AR shooting with scopes, pretty much all iron sights.
 
I want to get into ARs I want to drink beer like everyone else does.
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Forgive me, but that doesn't sound like a good reason. Save your money and get something that matches your personallity.

My first was in 1967 a Armilite AR-15 (should have kept that one) Had it for 20 years.

Out of 11 rifles only two are ARs (my lost youth) not a good reason but one I can live with. They are fun but so is my Savage 243, Malin 336C, Remington 7600 and others. Black guns are more a passion than a need and I think you will find that unless you are very passonate about them, it is one that you will eventually sell after a year. On the plus side it is cheaper to shoot than a lot of others.

You could get yourself one of the less expensive ones like the M&P15 sport model (excelent rifle for the money) and try it out to see if you really want to get into AR cool-aid grove. But be warned that like the potato chip you can't just eat one of them.

Good Luck
Jim

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I guess you really can call me a AR fanboy with a huge Magpul fetish, but I don't really care. I have nothing to prove. I work with firearms and shooting every day of my life. I even get paid to go to the range on certain days! :D

I will say my AR has some tough traditional competition in the safe... old Sako's, Ruger Tang safeties, pre-64 Winchesters, Garand... The one I am really missing that I still want is a nice 1903 Springer.

At the end of the day though.. in all honesty... the guns I enjoy the most are my AR's, and my Rem 700 "Tactical" (their model name not mine) in 6.8SPC.

I don't care what people think of me when I am at the range, whether clothing or equipment, I usually let my actions speak for me.

I have to love the AR since they are now extremely popular... and I sell firearms for a living... the AR is certainly my bread and butter... but I also appreciate "the finer things in life".

I guess people stereotype me when I show up at the range with a Magpul'd up AR, and a 700 "Tactical" but if you saw the revolvers... 1911's and older rifles in my safe that easily outnumber my AR's most of them would be surprised. I don't really blame them.. I am only 25, and most times I have the AR with me, so I can imagine some of the older guys are thinking "here we go again, another idiot trying to be Rambo." A lot of times I get people coming over to talk to me after awhile because I keep to myself, I handle my firearms well, and I act courteous and professional. I sometimes cringe when I see people my age with AR's or AK variants show up as well... because chances are they didn't grow up with firearms and work in the industry as I do.

I also work side by side with a few former Green Berets, so its real run we when all go to the range together.:rolleyes:
 
Thanks everyone for sharing! I am already feeling better! I am forcing myself to step out and forget my stubborn notions and do a long term experience with an AR. I just can't relate to AR owners right now, in fact at Larue field day couple weekends ago I'm pretty sure I was the only one that didn't know how to load an AR. I do have experience with M1, M1A, FAL, AK, however.


I have done some reading and thanks for everyone's advice. I am having hard time deciding what would be a good first experience for AR ownership. In general I do like my firearms to be cohesive and well thought out. So far I am contemplating:

KAC SR-15 - TACTICAL: In many ways captures the essence of a fully evolved AR, light and nimble

RRA NM A4 - MATCH: Solid starter AR for marksmanship training, plus I really enjoy shooting irons

Colt SP1 - LOOKS: Like the A1 style

Colt 6920 - DEFAULT

And yes there are many other respectable manufacturers out there, but as my first rifle I want a complete package. I can go noveske, larue, bcm etc but I'd rather have a single design focus
 
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I am happy to see you are actually trying at this.:D

Honestly all the rifles you mentioned are TOP TIER, and will serve you well.. let your intentions for the rifle decide which one for you... because as far as specs and brand name.. they rank from good to BEST.

Don't get wrapped up in the Name Game, as I like to call it. Yes I have a BCM upper currently.. but I have shot or owned almost all major brands.. I buy soley for spec's not names.

You need to decide however if the venture is worth the investment. If you enjoyed shooting ARs, and you would like to keep enjoying them, your choices would be great.

IF you are wary you might not like it... that is quite a lot of coin to drop on a maybe... but the resale values will be much greater than a Bushmaster or the like.
 
You MUST own an AR15. Shoot one and you'll understand.

If money is no object, get a Colt; hands down. My first AR (not counting my issued M16's) was a Colt 'blue box' 6721, A3, heavy barrel 16".

My second was a DPMS M4 varient.
My third was a Bushmaster, fourth was a Stag, fifth a Rock River Arms; there were a couple 'off brands' I built along the way, too.

My current AR project is a Palmetto State Armory pistol.

I originally sold the Colt when I got divorced and needed money. :( But it has always been my favorite. There's just something about that prancing pony mystique. Other manufacturers may be 'better' quality- Daniel Defense, LMT's higher end, etc..but the Colt is still a Colt.

Oh yeah, and the fanboy is right resale value on the Colt will continue to appreciate.
 
You don't HAVE to add all that goofus stuff to an AR to enjoy it or to use it for target shooting or varmint hunting. The plus is that you CAN add darned near anything to the basic platform that you desire.
My AR stable does not contain anything with the "prancing pony" logo since I swapped a Colt 7.62 A2 for an OLY A3. I have an array of configurations from probably the lightest 16" A1 to a 10# precision with 20" stainless bull barrel plus a pistol model. Each has it's uses and advantages although the pistol is more likely just an expensive toy(at some point it is destined to get a suppressor).
 
I pieced together my AR just out of the curiosity of tinkering with my own ideas and what my final goal in the gun would be, longer range shooting. I use it almost exclusively as a single or double tap and am into re-loading for accuracy and performance, not blasting away like a video game. It may take me 20 minutes or more to use a 30 round magazine when I am testing out a new load over 200 yards. Oddly enough my other favorite rifle I re-load for is my Marlin lever action 336 in 30-30 that I have had since 1973.
ARNikonProStaff3-9x50010Small.jpg
 
AR ANONYMOUS - Share your first experience
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1974, Colt, shot on weekends and reloaded four nights a week. Maybe that's why I lost it and many other guns in a 1983 divorce:rolleyes:

They are Barbie dolls for men. I must have six lowers and eight uppers plus parts to build two or three more. I've been in AR pistol land the past few months. Waiting on the SBR paper work:mad:

pistol01.jpg
 
I got mine - just because I thought it would be fun to put one together. Which it was and much easier than expected. Never thought I would actually like it... And yes mine is stock - no "extras".
 
I got my first AR a couple years ago and out of all my guns it would be the last one I would want to give up. I love shooting it it's just fun you can't beat the ergonomics of the AR IMO.
 
First experience? Joined the army in '73 and was issued one in basic training. It was an M16A1, and remember that the rack number (painted on the buttstock) was 8.

I grew up shooting shotguns and was familiar with recoil and wingshooting, but the AR was the first centerfire rifle I ever shot. I recall being amazed that I could sight on a target at 300 meters, squeeze the trigger, and the target would fall over. No recoil. None at all after a lifetime of 12 gauge shotguns, the thing felt like the recoil on my Benjamin pellet rifle. I also remember being intrigued that I could hear the buffer sliding in the tube in the stock. With hearing protectors, the rifle sounded like ka-ching, ka-ching, ka-ching.

Got out of the Army in '79, by '80 I was in the reserves or Guard. Looked upon the AR as a tool, the infantryman's tool. Nothing special, nothing to get excited about. Along about 1984, I got into law enforcement, with the odd weekend warrior status. I kept current on the AR with the military, and sometime during the '90s my LEO agency said that we could use ARs as patrol rifles if we purchased our own. I got a Bushmaster A2 clone.

I still shoot it a couple of times a year, but I still consider it a tool. I shoot iron sights and normally shoot better scores at our annual quals than the guys with the gussied-up flat tops. I admit, though that I have been considering a flat top upper/heavy barrel for scoping, just to see how it would do.

I still hear the buffer sliding in the tube. Ka-ching, ka-ching.
 
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