I'm new to the black rifles. I'd like to accessorize a little but don't want to buy junk. What brand names make quality parts (i.e. tactical forarms, flip sights...etc.) Thanks.
I moved this to the AR section. What do you have now? That might help the guys here help you with some choices for your upgrades. JD
Stick with thr reputable brands, each will have its own "specialty" how much do you want to spend is the real question In an insane effort to double the cost of the original rifle.... my wish list (in partial execution) would be: free float rail system - Yankee Hill Machine (just got one!) prolly the best value, Larue or Daniel Def have great rep though tango down vert grip low profile gas block - YHM again Troy BUIS - Troy makes a great sight, but they are PROUD of it and the cost shows it ACOG NSN - depends on what you want to do with it; aimpoint or trijicon dont go cheap if you put an optic on her MIAD grip - MAGPUL Magpul trigger guard - MAGPUL CTR stock - MAGPUL - again, proud of these $$$ the 6 pos that is OEM will do for you for a while IMO start with the hand guards (after getting a sh*%load of magazines), if nothing else upgrade to the M4 standard instead of the little spindly XM177 style they throw on the 15 ORs. Guys will have their personal prefs and opinions, we tend to stay with what we are comfortable with. Just watch the cost, sometimes things gain a life of their own if some "expert" writes an article on it or it shows up on the cover of a gun mag. Take your time, the most time critical item you have (the rifle) so you are in the cat bird's seat. Congrats on the purchase, enjoy!
Hillbilly has a good list there. A REALLY good list actually. I would personally opt out of the ACOG for an EoTech, but that is personal preference only. I think a tuned trigger ( either done for you by a 'smith or a good drop in model ), a free floated fore end and a good set of sights are the first and most important upgrades. After that, some quality magazines and a ton of ammo before that too becomes scarce.... But, in the interest of personalizing your thread, and YOUR weapon, what are you looking for the weapon to do? JD
Thanks for the replies. I bought the rifle somewhat on a whim. Not much interest in military type guns, mostly sporting arms. I picked this little gem up because one, I still can, and two, I got it at a good price. Although I could go to a gun show and sell it for a profit, I plan on keeping it as a home defense gun (notice I will not use the term WEAPON as no gun in my house is one, although a screwdriver could be and nobody trying to ban those). My plan right now it to put on a tactical rail forarm, so to attach a vertical grip, flashlight possibly a laser and the option of a bipod. The bipod would be more for plinking at the range. I'm also thinking of putting on the Leupold CR/T scope. This one over any other again because I can get it for a very good price. Also I would like flip-up iron sights for in the event the scope would malfunction in the "heat of battle." I don't know what the difference is between the free floating forarm and the standard type, or why the free float would be better. Keep in mind I'm not setting this up for long distance accuracy. I'm not prarie doggin' or going to camp Perry with this gun. If that were the case, I would not have bought this configuration. I've found a company called GG&G that seems to have what I'm looking for in a forarm, vertical grip, and flip-up front and rear sights. Being new to the ar's, I don't know if they have quality products or not. I will check into the other companies you guys mentioned. Thanks again for you time. Shoot safe.
Just one quick comment about an AR as a home defense rifle: they're not necessarily too good for that. If you have neighbors anywhere near you or you have others living in your home, the AR is not a good choice because the rounds can very easily penetrate through multiple interior and exterior walls. The chances you might accidentally hurt a family member or neighbor are comparatively high. I recommend a shotgun with #2 or #4 buckshot for home defense. A generic AR configuration is ideal for medium range on out to maybe 300 yards. (That's a reach.)
bkt, Point well taken, though I agree with you on the shotgun idea, which I already have along with various handguns, the ar will help round out my defense collection. Hope I don't sound like I'm leaning towards the psyco side.
Good, a shotgun is better-suited, IMO, for home defense. The AR is a great "neighborhood watch" accessory. No, you don't sound like a psycho. At least, not any more than anyone else here.
5.56x45mm frangible rounds are pretty easy to come by. A good frangible round will penetrate human flesh but begin to disintegrate when it comes in contact with lath and plaster or exterior walls. The downside is that drywall does nothing to stop it. IIRC, There a even a couple of different Glaser loads available.
Yeah, I thought about that after I posted. But buckshot at close range will have suitable one-shot-stopping power -- arguably more than a 5.56 -- without chewing up your drywall (unless you miss).
I'm with bkt - Inside the house I like my 1911 first, or need be, my FN Shotgun. Outside the house I like the AR for short range, Zombie in the Wire type of applications. JD
When my alma mater police department was researching adopting AR's (5.56 / .223) as patrol rifles, one of the biggest objections by the city attorney and politicians was that of over penetration, which our research said was not an issue. So, we did our own tests, using dry wall, doors and floors. What we learned was that our issue .40 caliber pistol ammo (Ranger SXT) at the time, penetrated deeper than HP 5.56 / .223. I know it seems odd, but that's what we found. That's my experience, your mileage may vary.
A shotgun is great, until you need to make a precision shot on a badguy holding a hostage, or fire more than 8 rounds at a time. A shot gun can only beat a rifle at breaching locks and shooting birds... That has been the consistent results from several other sources, with some great credibility...
Looks like we are getting a little off track from where I started. Can anyone tell me if GG&G make quality parts, particularly tactical forearms, and vertical grips? Also what about their flip-up front and rear sights? Thanks, Jamie
LOL Jamie...hopefully you forgive the guys here. They really do mean well, but tend to lose track of the subject at times...we all do that. As for your question...GG&G makes some top notch gear, and you would do well with any of their parts. Yes, there are a few other brands out there that some of the 'rambos' will swear you have to have over them or any other brands, but I have yet had anything by GG&G fail on me. I do have their flip up sights on a few of my guns, as well as their forearm/vertical grips and quick release optics mounts. I've had those same parts on a few guns that have been through a couple carbine courses with no problems. I would not be afraid to buy from them again or mount any of their equipment on any of my AR's. Slo
Thanks sloryde45, Yeah, I know it's easy to get off track. I figured there would be guys with responses of "you have to use brand 'x'" or "anything but brand 'y' is junk," or some such response. I was suprised how few responses of what actual brand names are good or bad. I came across GG&G's website and it looked like quality gear, also made in U.S.A. I know others are as well, and I am checking into those as I get info. on them. I know very little about ar's, so I'll listen to all the help I can get. Shoot safe, Jamie
