AR ANONYMOUS - Share your first experience

I traded an H&R .32 self-loader for a Colt SP1-Carbine sometime in the early '90's. I have never even fired it - it just sits in the safe. Thinking of ditching it to free up funds for something more interesting.
 
My introduction was in BMT as well. I remember thinking, man this thing has no recoil. I did not like the simulated distance targets. I did not shoot expert as I was issued BCGs and I swear my vision was worse (well that's my excuse):)

I have used it mostly for qualifications, exercises (blanks and miles gear) and during deployments. Very comfortable with it.

It was not until after my latest trip to the sandbox, that I thought about buying one (i have the usual hunting rifles, shotguns and pistols). I'm so glad I did. It's so easy to customize. I like Magpul and Troy accesories at the moment. But I'm also looking into getting a plain 20" rifle like the one I shot at BMT (well it will not be full auto).
 
Sorry to go against the grain, gang - but since I shot an M-16 (AR) extensively during my vacation to Southeast Asia in the early-mid 60's, I can't say I'd take ownership of one anytime soon, for gratis..................

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issue

Agency went from Mini-14's to full size, semi M16/AR rifles, about 1990, so I had some time with the Mini first. Big surprise, once I got past the alloy and space plastic, was the buffer tube/spring noise in the stock with every shot. BOING.........BOING.. The full size rifle was a tad longer than the full stodked Mini's too, Some of the Mini's had folding stocks to boot, making them more compact and stowable in the pass compartment.

About 2000, our Chief Ranger put up the cash to overhaul the full size rifles into M4 carbine dimension, Bushmaster barrels, handguards and telestocks. (we also did sights, extractors and extractor springs also) These were well received by the staff, and because of their compactness and ease of carry, we see them deployed on incidents much more often than the full size rifles ever were, mainly cause the rifles could not fit easliy into the passenger compartment of patrol vehicles, but got stowed in the trunk.

Carbines stow easy.
 
Me, I hate ARs.

You have a forward assist (M1 have a forward assist?) nah. Dumb, just dumb.

Then you have a covered port M1 have a coverted port? NAH. AK, nope (well the Russians are dumb but.... then no one else does either, and its flimsy.

Controls just suck. sorry, who in their right flipping mind would put a charging handle on the BACK of a rifle? phew

Then there is the bolt latch back. A tiny little thing on the side.

And yes I got one. Why? Damned things are accurate and I want to shoot good groups. Go figure. I can live with all the silly and poor ergonomics, but why would you inflict that on the worlds finest fighting force is beyond me.

If you want to get an interesing gun, a Robinson Arms XCR is worth a look.

It has ergonomics to love. Everything is in the right placed. You can change calibers (5.56, 6.8 and 7.62 AK round). Its pretty accuratge (1.5 MOA despite the changeable barrell and some get better than that )

The bolt is like an AK as is the long stroke gas piston (desinged that way not fabbed on). Folding stock if you want.
 
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My first experience with ARs was in the military, the first ARs not the new and improved variants of today and they were terrible. Unless it was clean and oiled it would jam to the point of greater effectiveness as a club. My next encounter came during the first AWB to which I had to have one because they would not longer be available $1700.00 dollars later I had a new bushmaster which did function flawlessly. After selling it for the going rate of $600.00 I swore that I did not care for them and would not buy another. Purchased a new model mini-14 which I like but my wife does not, so I bought her a new DPMS and wouldn't you know it, took it out to the range and it was a jam o matic. Returned hastily to my LGS who spotted a mis- manufacatured lip on the magazine and after trading it out has functioned flawlessly. They are still not my favorite, but I am building one currently for my daughter as she also prefers the AR to the mini.
 
My first experience with an AR was in 1965 when I qualified with General Lemay's new rifle, the AR15. Twannnnggg in my ear and another expert rating. The next one was in 2005 with a DPMS LR308B and two weeks ago with a RRA .223.

Roger
 
I own only 1 AR and I will never sell it. It is my personal belief that it is one of the finest carbines ever made. It is as accurate as anything light weight. As for it jamming I have only had 1 jam out of 3000 rounds thru it. It was because I did not oil and clean it from the last shooting and thats my fault as I always clean and oil my firearms after every cleaning.
 
after a decade and a half of;
eating with,
sleeping with,
marching with,
parades and ceremonies,
carrying many miles,
lugging many miles,
dragging many miles,
untangling from camo net,
cleaning mud out of,
cleaning dirt out of,
cleaning sand out of,
cleaning water out of,
cleaning hydraulic oil out of,
cleaning cracker crumbs out of,
untangling from assorted thorny vegetation,
assembling,
disassembling,
looking for some dummy's misplaced rifle,
subsequent installation of dummy cords
and did I mention Untangling for camo net,
and more untangling from camo net.

I kinda had my fill of them, now I am feeling a little nostalgic so I may buy one in the near future.
 
NO big deal the AR is just a tool,it just happens to work good on coyotes,groundhogs,& beer cans,& other stuff that needs shootin:D
 
I laughed out loud! I have a funny scarf like that. Got it in Kuwait twenty years ago.

Living in NJ after The Corps to be near my family, I was way limited in selecting an AR years ago. While the Federal Assault Weapons Ban sunseted, NJ kept it in place! I was forced to get a Bushmaster (aka Bush Hamster) NJ compliant model, the Dissipator, that swapped evil things like bayonet lugs and adjustable stocks and forbid! a 'flash suppressor' for a ported Dissipator muzzle.

Alas, we were also limited to ten round steel mags, twenty rounders pinned to fifteen or finding and buying NJ compliant fifteen round PMAGs and paying $40 each for them. I did it. I know, I know. I missed my M16A2! I missed thirty round mags. I didn't miss my bayonet.

Now I live in America again, in the Great State of Texas. There's a zillion AR manufacturers now! 60 and 100 round Surefire mags, accessories galore, uppers, lowers, SBRs, tactical latches and optics and sling points and......whew?

I'll buy another AR again. I admire 7.62 and .300AAC Blackout looks really interesting, too but I will likely build a carbine length 5.56mm something or other with Magpul MOE furniture, backup iron sights and an optic of some kind, with a light, and some PMAGs, and a single point sling. I will not buy a Bushmaster again as Remington owns them now and Rem and I, we parted ways long ago. RRA, CMMG, etc.

I still don't miss my bayonet but I would like either an M203 or an underbarrel 12 gauge doorknocker. A boy can dream! :D
 
I must've been about 9 years old when dad bought his A1 AR15. 9 year old boys do not question toy-like sounds, they just roll with it. Once I started buying my own weapons I said I'd never buy one, poodle shooter, Mattel, etc..but I did realize that it makes sense logistically to own one, but still never bought one, favoring the M1A instead...

Then my buddy showed up with a new Bushmaster and my Wife could not live with that so I had one within a week. Well twist my arm! :D

Actually, the MilSurp Market is enough reason alone to buy an AR.
 
In late 1994, briefly home from the military, I walked into the LGS and bought a Colt A2 because of Bill Clinton. That's how I got into ARs. It was a different world back then, there were no hordes of mags, accessories, and bulk ammo waiting. Other than the childhood .22, that was my first gun. Way to go with the effective gun ban retards, you created a radical. :D
 
After lugging my Saiga 762 up and down to a deer blind a 1/2 dozen times, I decided I really liked the AR platform. :eek: :cool:
 
Big surprise, once I got past the alloy and space plastic, was the buffer tube/spring noise in the stock with every shot. BOING.........BOING..
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Your first shot from an AR-15 is always memorable.
THWAAANG!
Followed by "What was that?"
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9 year old boys do not question toy-like sounds, they just roll with it. Once I started buying my own weapons I said I'd never buy one, poodle shooter, Mattel, etc.
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ROFLMAO...

These of the first things that went through my head when I first shot my friend's AR... what a P.O.S., I thought! I don't even like my semi-auto pistols that much. All those "automatic" mechanical dramatics going on after every trigger pull. Guess it's like a standard shift car for me, I like to precisely control what the machine is doing ever step of the way. Something visceral about manually cocking revolvers, bolts, pumps and lever actions for me. Not to mention slowing down a bit and savoring every shot.

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.
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My sentiments as well, but I finally gave in too. A few of reasons, I guess: like paddle shifters in a car, I admit they're quicker/better performing than what can be done manually; I always have SHTF in the back of my head, and ultimately, it's hard to beat the AR platform for all around versatility; and I think these tactical-type weapons will get banned someday (again?).

For me, I hate cleaning guns and so I went with with a piston-driven AR - an LWRC.
 
First experience with AR. 1972 Ft Leonard Wood.

Developed a paroniod delusion that the Charging handle would jump back into my eye and blind me.

Took 20 years to qualify expert.

Now own one and love it.

really want one in 257 Roberts
 
If you're hear asking about ARs, you've already made up your mind to get one. The only thing left is chosing which one to get. Unfortunately, this is a pretty tough choice to make because there are a LOT of decent examples of AR's out there.

If you can't afford to spend $1500 on a rifle and mods to it, you may as well just walk away now, and go buy a Mini-14. If you are committed to spending that kind of money, keep reading.

You can save yourself a few huundred dollars by purchasing a rifle that's at least 90% of what you want. My own minimum requirements are:

0) Mid-length gas system barrel with 1:8 rifling

1) Full-auto BCG (with appropriate buffer and action spring)

2) Chrome chamber/bore with M4 feed ramps

3) Flat-top upper

4) Rear flip-up sight and front flip-up gasblock/sight

5) Telescoping milspec stock

After that, it's all pretty much the same to me.

In all reality, you shouldn't have to spend much more than $1000 on a rifle, but you should have some money ready to make it yours, and yours alone (trigger, optics, etc).

Finally, resist the urge to hang a bunch of crap off the hand guard. It just weighs the rifle down and won't really do anything for you.
 
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