Is This Really Necessary?

A

Andrew Wiggin

New member
Another article I wrote. Please share any criticism and feedback. Thanks.

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There is a tendency for folks to hang all manner of accessories on a gun until it looks like it fell through a Tapco catalog. Is all that really necessary? Is it even useful? What characteristics should a home defense gun have? What is absolutely mandatory, what is desirable, and what is counterproductive?

There is much debate over what is the “best” gun for home defense, but the best gun for you is the one with which you are most proficient. If the gun with which you are most proficient is a single shot .410 bore shotgun, you might wish to consider getting some training on a more effective tool. This article doesn’t presume to tell you what that tool should be, but it will give you a good idea of what is really important in a home defense gun.
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The rest is here if you're interested.
 
Mac Scott, accomplished gunsmith and a friend from the old Compuserve Firearms Forum days, used to call this kind of stuff BOPOS...

Bolt On Pieces Of Schmidt


Personally, I don't think it's REALLY tactical until it has eleventyseven Punxsutawney rails (approved by Phil every February 2) and enough room for a deep fat fryer...

At least I'm assuming there's a deep fat fryer, otherwise how would all of the tactical combat commandos at the range have gotten so damned fat?
 
It used to have to be appropriate for 'ghost busters' but now it has to be good for zombie types. I'm too old to carry all that gear so my iron sighted Rolling block will take out 2 or 3 zombies then it's over .:mad:
 
Are Ivory grips necessary? How about illuminated reticules for hunting scopes? Engraving and two tone finishes on handguns? How about more than one firearm in any given caliber? Folks bolt fancy wheels on pickup trucks and chrome on their motorcycles that does nuttin' more than add weight and decreases performance. All are embellishments by the owner for their own pleasure. None are worth fretting about. Funny how folks with custom grips on their handguns made with exotic woods make fun of the other guy with a flashlight strapped to his AR. I don't own an AR, but still have no problem with folks that do. Nor do I have a problem with what other folks do to their firearms to make them "theirs". Might be 'cause I have bigger issues in life....or that I have a life.:rolleyes:
 
Without realizing it you've both made, and missed, the point, Buck...

"that does nuttin' more than add weight and decreases performance."

All too often that's what these things are... impediments to both form AND function.

There's a critical difference between "I'd like" and "I need."

I've never heard anyone say that they NEED ivory grips, or a two tone finish. I've frequently heard people say that they would LIKE such an accoutrement.

But far too often I've heard people describe the tactical accessories in terms of NEED.

I've witnessed much the same thing over the years with handguns...

I NEED a pistol with an 87-round magazine!

And far too often I've had the opportunity to observe that yes, this individual DOES need such a handgun, because that's the ONLY hope that they have of hitting the target more than once...


Anyway, just my observation.

If you find joy and harmony with your deep fat fryer, more power to you. :D
 
Just like it is your house, your car, your boat, your motorcycle, your whatever, do to your gun whatever you want to as long as it is legal. Honestly, who gives a crap what anyone else thinks about the accessories you decide to place on your firearm as long as you like it.

By the way, the closest I come to tacti-cool is a red dot sight on my wife's Neos, and some 25 shot magazines for my 10/22.
 
Mike Irwin Without realizing it you've both made, and missed, the point, Buck...
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Haven't missed any point Mike, only trying to make one. Folks here tend to criticize anyone for doing anything different than them. Is that really necessary? For the most part, folks don't need ARs. Let's belittle all of them. For the most part, no body needs a custom 1911. Lets make fun of their waste of monies. You're correct, need and like are very different. Realistically, you don't need to criticize others, apparently, you just like to.

I didn't get the deep fat fryer part, but then, I guess I don't need to.
 
Ive got stuff "bolted on" to my primary AR.

-sling mount. The sling is to a rifle as a holster is to a pistol. Gotta have some way to carry the darn thing.

-red dot optic. Just a faster way to aim your shots. Iron sights will work but the red dot is more efficient at getting hits.

-BUIS. Unfortunately, red dots can go down. Bad battery, Electronics break, lens shattered to the point of not being able to see thru it, whatever. Redundancy in your sighting system is needed

-Light. Youve got to ID your target. Since about 1/2 of a 24 hour day is in darkness (not to mention all the places that are dark even at 12 noon), it just makes sense to be able to "light things up"

- Muzzle break/flash hider. Needed as an attachment point for my suppressor, but generally a good addition to a fighting rifle

Does all this stuff make the gun heavier then if it was "naked"...sure. But i think its all performance enhancing add ons.

If an item makes you more effective and efficient in the use of your chosen tool then why not take advantage of that?

One of the beauties of the LIGHTWEIGHT AR is the ability to add options and still have a useable weight system. Adding all kinds of stuff to an M1 garand makes a heavy rifle into an unwieldy one.
 
Isn't this forum pretty much caring about what people do with their money?
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If you mean by that most people here willingly give their opinions, and relate their own experiences when asked a question, then yes...Tis a very helpful and knowledge filled place...

If by that you mean that people snarkilly make fun of what other people do with their hard earned money just because it does not live up their own standards in some way, then I'd have to disagree...

Or at least I thought this place was better than that...
 
Remember that civil debate between more knowledgable members can help novice members and lurkers decide what best meets their needs.

The point of the article wasn't to denigrate anyone's choices, but to offer some food for thought and help people new to firearms to make informed decisions.
 
I think its a little silly when someone "tricks out" an ar just because they read on the internet that you should put x y and z on your ar. I think the key is to know what you are looking for in the rifle and decorate accordingly, not how someone else tells you to.
 
I have a 3x9 scope and a grippod and sometimes change between laser and pentagon light . I tried the carry everything on it and realized I messed up the feel of my neat little carbine .
 
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